Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling Upholding Transgender Athlete Bans

June 30, 2026

Today, the Supreme Court ruled that states can bar transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams that match who they are. This decision upholds laws in West Virginia and Idaho and protects similar bans now in place across 27 states.

This ruling causes real harm. It tells trans kids, who are already navigating school, friendships, and growing up under intense public scrutiny, that their right to belong on a team with their peers is up for legal debate. It strips away one more place where trans youth could simply be kids. And while this ruling centers on trans girls and women, we want to name it clearly: trans boys and men are also erased by this decision. A ruling that sorts who belongs based on “biological sex” doesn’t just exclude, it erases them from the conversation entirely.

This decision doesn’t stand alone. It follows last year’s ruling upholding bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors, and it arrives alongside federal and institutional policy shifts that have already narrowed where trans people can fully participate in public life. Together, these rulings build on each other, and we believe they signal more restrictions ahead, not fewer. 

When a court legitimizes discrimination against one group, it builds the legal architecture to do the same to others. The reasoning that justifies excluding trans people today is the same reasoning that has historically been used to justify discrimination based on race, religion, and disability. A threat to one marginalized group is a threat to the whole body. Our fight for trans inclusion is connected to every other struggle for justice and dignity. 

We urge you to stay informed as this continues to unfold, and to keep working alongside each other to fight these policies wherever they show up next.

To our trans siblings: you belong. On the field, in our churches, in your community, exactly as you are. No court, no state, and no legal decision gets to define who you are or how God sees you. This ruling does not change that truth, and it does not change our commitment to you.

RMN stands firmly against this decision, and against any policy that treats trans people’s place in public life as something up for debate. We will continue working toward a world where all people, in every space, are fully included and affirmed.

Uncharted: Convocation 2025 Recap

Becoming the Church We Need Right Now

“We are the Church. Don’t get distracted.”
— Rev. Dr. Valerie Jackson

Somehow, we were more open to each other. Our guards were down. Or maybe it was just the feeling that the Church finally did the right thing.

We gathered. We celebrated. We grieved, hoped, danced, prayed, and moved forward together. And now, we continue the work. This post contains everything you need to revisit Convocation 2025 and take your next faithful step.


By the Numbers

  • 191 in-person attendees
  • 26 virtual participants
  • 25+ volunteers daily from First UMC – Madison
  • 14 workshops
  • 5 plenary sessions
  • 3 powerful worship services
  • $82,059 raised at the Starry Night Gala 🎉

Photos & Videos

Relive the joy, movement, and connection from Convocation:


Music & Liturgy

*Special thanks to Mark Bowman for bringing the music and helping us honor the legacy of justice through song.


Resources from Convo

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Justice

🗳️ Faith & Politics

🏘 Resources for Reconciling Ministries

📚 Books & Authors from Convo


Take the Next Step

Share Your Feedback

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Meet the Match

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Final Zoom Gathering

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We are deeply grateful to the sponsors and partners who made Convocation 2025 possible. Their generosity helps power this movement of grace and justice.