Earlier this month, Republican lawmakers in North Carolina passed a bill by a veto-proof margin that would ban transgender girls from competing in girls sports throughout the state. But one girl who would be affected by the new law does not seem to think the bill is necessary.
16-year-old Maddie Jenifer – a rising junior in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools – has played many sports growing up, but she claims that she has never dominated the competition, as many transgender critics claim would happen when a transgender woman competes against women.
“In seventh grade when I did softball, I didn’t even play in any games because I was so bad. Like, I had no advantage over anybody on that team,” Jenifer told WFAE.
Jenifer now wants to try out for her school’s softball team, but she is not doing it to try to dominate the sport or earn a college scholarship. Her reason is pretty simple and innocent: she wants to have fun with her friends.
“To be with my friends. I’m just trying to make friends and live my life and just have some fun,” Jenifer said.
When the new law goes into effect, Jenifer will not be permitted to play softball with her friends.
