A Letter to USAC on Arkansas and Cyclocross Worlds
The Arkansas legislature recently passed a slate of bills that discriminate against trans people, including two signed into law by Governor Hutchinson that prohibit trans women and girls from participating in sports and permit medical providers to conscientiously object to providing care. These discriminatory laws in Arkansas, along with similar laws being proposed in several other states, conflict with trans-inclusive policies established by USA Cycling and the International Olympic Committee. With a UCI Cyclocross World Cup and the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships coming up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, we join with fellow teams and athletes, in calling for USA Cycling to take action to unequivocally stand with trans people in our community.
Dear USA Cycling President, Board of Directors and members of the DEI Task Force:
We are To Be Determined p/b Metropolitan Dental Care, the women's squad of a New York and Colorado based team who are as passionate about bike racing as we are about supporting each other, and other women in the sport.
We don't just race bikes - our team members have served as race directors, mentors to new racers, community organizers, and leaders for the CRCA, NYSBRA and USAC itself.
We are deeply saddened and angry to learn of the passage of new bills in Arkansas that will prevent trans women from competing alongside us, and likely deny healthcare to trans people. Trans women are women. Period. Cycling is for everyone. Period. It is absurd to support holding a competitive cycling event in a place that would deny healthcare to racers or visitors, for any reason, least of all their gender. Period.
Your DEI mission statement reads, "People should feel comfortable participating in cycling, regardless of gender, gender identity, race, class, or any other perceived difference." How can someone feel comfortable participating in a bike race when the official law of the land doesn't allow them to compete as they are, and expressly condones the commission of tangible harm against them because of who they are? And to be clear, the laws are not only dangerous to trans athletes, but signal unsafe conditions for any member who has ever experienced racism, sexism, or homophobia related discrimination in this country.
We ask that you:
Make an explicit statement via official USAC channels denouncing the Arkansas legislation to clearly align USA Cycling with our queer and trans athletes
Place pressure on the UCI to move the 2021 Cyclocross World Cup and 2022 World Championship from Arkansas
Refuse to send Team USA athletes to these races unless relocated to a state that will allow trans athletes to compete
Contact Governor Hutchinson and local lawmakers to explain how this negatively impacts Arkansas' economy, constituents, and cycling
We urge your organization to be louder than the voices trying to silence the trans athletes, who contribute vibrant, multifaceted, and inspiring perspectives to sport. We urge you to stand by your stated values of diversity and inclusion and your own policies on trans inclusivity in competition.
It is all of us, or none of us.
