Participation in any strength sport should not be contingent on an individual’s gender identity, gender expression, or socioeconomic status.
In 2018, USA Powerlifting (USAPL) implemented a blanket ban on transgender people from competing in the division consistent with their gender identity. Pull for Pride’s then Co-Directors, JayCee Cooper and Breanna Diaz, as well as many other concerned USAPL members, came together to draft a trans-inclusive policy– one consistent with the policies adopted by the International Olympic Committee and the International Powerlifting Federation. Unfortunately, USAPL rejected our policy proposal and leadership stands firm in their harmful misunderstanding of the trans community.