Bio
Becky is 11 years old and is entering middle school. When Becky isn鈥檛 coloring her hair pink (her favorite color) or playing video games with her friends, she鈥檚 probably running. Everyone in Becky鈥檚 family 鈥� her two older brothers and both her parents 鈥� are avid runners. When Becky鈥檚 school system announced it would reopen sports following the COVID-19 pandemic, she was excited to try out for the cross-country team. In elementary school, Becky had been a cheerleader.
But state lawmakers had other plans. During the 2021 session, the West Virginia Legislature passed HB 3293, which bans trans girls from participating in sports. Becky and her mom, Heather, wrote and called Gov. Jim Justice鈥檚 office several times asking for a veto, but Justice signed it into law despite tens of thousands of similar phone calls, emails, and letters.
Becky never had to 鈥渃ome out鈥� to her family. As early as age four, long before she 鈥� or her parents for that matter 鈥� understood what the word 鈥渢ransgender鈥� meant, Becky knew she was a girl. Heather educated herself about trans identities and has always accepted Becky as she is.
Heather said the local community has been mostly accepting and that Becky has a wonderful group of supportive friends.
Becky said she is challenging the discriminatory law because she is sure there are other kids like her in West Virginia and she doesn鈥檛 want them to miss out on the opportunities that come with being involved in sports. 鈥淭rans kids deserve better,鈥� she said.