On the morning of 5/2/25, 15 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Supporter Groups posted on their social media accounts a united message of support for the transgender community. 

Recently, several bans on trans athletes have passed including the Football Association (FA) and England Netball banning transgender women from all women’s teams after the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruling on April 16th, 2025 that interprets the terms woman and sex under their Equality Act 2010 to refer strictly and explicitly to biological sex assigned at birth.

The instagram post reads:

“As NWSL supporters associations representing thousands of fans across the country, we invite the NWSL and its fans to join us in taking a vocal and visible stand in support of the transgender community and against all gender-based harassment.”

“Women’s soccer exists because society refused to accept exclusion. Our game was built through generations of struggle–for gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice. Efforts to exclude trans athletes are fueled by the same forces of misogyny and bigotry that have long tried to dictate who belongs. These efforts undermine the spirit of women’s sports and harm all athletes by reinforcing narrow, discriminatory ideas about gender.”

“From the field to the stands, the LGBTQ+ community has always been a vital and visible part of the NWSL, and for many of us, women’s sport is a safe haven–a place where we found community and belonging while being our full selves.”

“Come to an NWSL game, and you will not just see athleticism and competition, but joy and togetherness. Our league, where queer and trans kids can see themselves reflected on the field and in the stands, is proof that welcoming everyone makes us all safer.”

“Now, as the trans community faces escalating attacks driven by harmful legislation and damaging public rhetoric, we must continue that fight by standing firmly and vocally, together, for inclusion in sports.”

“It is on all of us to ensure that every match, every event, and every space under the league’s banner remains safe, inclusive, and free from hate–for everyone.”

“Silence is not neutrality. Speaking out matters. Showing your support for trans athletes, and trans people, matters, Let’s work together to ensure women’s soccer continues to be a space of inclusion, safety, and joy for all.” 

The statement also came with a hashtag, #TransPeopleBelong. They are also launching a t-shirt campaign that is in support of the Transgender Law Center. The shirt has a graphic of a person with a soccer ball at their feet on a field, with words across the top that say “Trans People Belong”. The colors of the shirt are the same colors of the trans flag, which are blue, white, and pink. 

You can buy the shirt, which is available here.

They have chosen to support the Transgender Law Center, which is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for self-determination for all people. The vision on their website reads:

“We envision a world where transgender liberation intersects with racial, economic, and social justice. In this future, every person, regardless of identity or background, has the autonomy to define and pursue their own path to happiness and fulfillment. We believe that our liberation is interconnected and that none of us are free until all of us are free.”

The supporter groups cover all 14 currently active NWSL clubs, as well as the incoming Boston Legacy FC supporter group that will be joining the league in 2026. 

More is rumored to come, according to Attacking Third. They covered the story and said that the campaign is more than online but that it will also include in-stadium displays by the supporter sections that feature the hashtag “Trans People Belong”. It will also include an educational component in partnership with Athlete Ally. 

We previously reported on incidents of gender-based violence being targeted at Barbara Banda and the actions swiftly taken by Gotham FC to reprimand the violations against the Fan Code of Conduct. The escalations of transphobia across sports and in the current society must be met with visibility and vocal calls against it.