Trans Bensalem Teen, Coach Speak On Inclusion In Sports

BENSALEM, PA — For Bensalem High School student Hunter Felice, transitioning after his freshman year also meant deciding to leave behind the girls’ basketball and soccer teams he’d played on. In a 6ABC report this morning, Christie Ileto interviewed Felice and one of his former coaches, Ronan Diamond, about their experiences as trans athletes.

This interview follows the U.S. Department of Education’s recent ruling that federal Title IX protections do include LGBTQ+ students. This interpretation reverses Trump-era policy, and contradicts much of the anti-trans legislation around school sports recently proposed in many states — including Pennsylvania.

Felice says he chose to leave his school teams because of questions about where he fit in, and fears of judgment from teammates.

"‘Where do I belong, the boys' team or the girls' team?’” he said, describing the questions on his mind at the time. “And I'm like: ‘Is there an in the middle?’"

Felice told 6ABC that he now regrets leaving the sports he loves. But many teens experience similar quandaries, especially given that Pennsylvania has become one of three-dozen states to consider anti-trans sports legislation. In April, a group of lawmakers introduced a bill called the "Save Women's Sports Act", which would ban transgender women from playing on womens’ teams in schools.

You can see the full report at 6ABC.