How Many Transgender Kids Play Sports?

Transgender Athlete Statistics and the Reality of High School Trans Athletes

One of the most common myths about transgender athletes is the belief that large numbers of trans kids are playing sports everywhere -  in every city, every school, and every level of competition.

This myth shows up repeatedly in media coverage and political debates, especially when people talk about high school transgender athletes.

But when we look at the actual data, a very different picture emerges.

So let’s start with the basic question:

How many transgender kids actually play sports?

The Short Answer: Very Few

Available data consistently show that transgender and nonbinary youth participate in sports at much lower rates than their straight and cisgender peers.

According to a national report from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC):

• 68% of all youth in the United States participate in sports

• Only 24% of LGBTQ youth participate in sports overall

• Among transgender and nonbinary youth specifically:

  • 14% of nonbinary youth play sports

  • 14% of transgender boys play sports

  • 12% of transgender girls play sports

    (Human Rights Campaign, 2018; 2021)

    
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These figures directly contradict the idea that transgender youth are widely participating in (or dominating) sports.

Statistically speaking, high school transgender athletes are rare, not common.

Transgender Athlete Statistics: What the Data Actually Shows

When people search for “transgender athlete statistics,” they’re often trying to understand the scope of trans participation in sports.

The most important statistical takeaway is this:

Transgender youth are underrepresented in sports, not overrepresented.

Most trans and nonbinary kids do not play sports - but straight and cisgender kids participate at significantly higher rates than LGBTQ and transgender youth (HRC, 2018).

Despite frequent claims about widespread participation, there is no evidence showing large numbers of transgender students competing in school athletics at any level, including high school.

Multiple national surveys of youth participation show the opposite pattern: transgender kids are less likely to join teams, less likely to stay involved, and more likely to drop out due to social and structural barriers (HRC, 2018; GLSEN, 2021).

Why Is Sports Participation So Low for Transgender Kids?

If transgender athletes are so rare, the next question is obvious:

Why don’t more transgender youth play sports?

Research and lived experience point to several consistent factors:

• Feeling unsafe or unwelcome on teams

• Fear of harassment or bullying from teammates or spectators

• Fear of having to come out to coaches or school administrators

• Not being allowed to play on a team that matches their gender identity

• Barriers related to locker rooms, bathrooms, or uniforms

• Previous negative experiences in school sports environments

• Policies that explicitly or implicitly exclude transgender students

  
  

According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, transgender students report significantly higher rates of feeling unsafe in school spaces, including athletics, compared to cisgender peers (GLSEN, 2021).

These barriers help explain why participation numbers are low - not because trans kids lack interest, but because sports environments are often not built for them.

Why Do Transgender Kids Play Sports?

Despite these challenges, some transgender kids do participate in sports.

And they do so for the same reasons as any other kid.

Transgender youth play sports because they:

• Love sports

• Want to play with friends

• Want to make new friends

• Enjoy movement and competition

• Want structure and routine

• Want to learn new skills

• Want to have fun

Sport is a core part of the U.S. educational system and social culture. Trans people are not participating for different reasons than anyone else.

For some transgender youth, sports teams also serve as a critical source of community and belonging, especially in environments where they may feel isolated elsewhere.

Why Sports Participation Matters for Transgender Youth

Youth sports are not just about competition. Decades of research show that participation is associated with significant benefits, including:

• Higher likelihood of attending college and earning degrees

• Higher self-esteem and self-worth

• Increased social connectedness

• Stronger teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills

• Improved mental health outcomes, including:

  • Reduced depressive symptoms

  • Lower rates of suicidal ideation

  • Lower overall suicide risk compared to non-athletes

• Healthier adult outcomes, since physically active youth are more likely to remain active as adults

  
  

These findings are supported by research from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which emphasize physical activity as a protective factor for youth mental health (CDC, 2019; AAP, 2020).

For transgender youth who already face elevated mental health risks due to stigma and exclusion, access to these benefits is especially important.

What This Means for High School Transgender Athletes

For people seeking accurate information about high school transgender athletes, the evidence is clear:

• Transgender students are not flooding school sports

• They are not statistically overrepresented

• They are less likely to participate at all

• Exclusionary policies do not address a real participation problem

• Instead, they further reduce already low participation rates

Any meaningful discussion about fairness in school sports must begin with accurate data, not assumptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many transgender athletes are there in high school sports?

There is no evidence of large numbers. Available data shows transgender youth participate at much lower rates than cisgender youth, often below 15%.

Are transgender kids dominating youth sports?

No. There is no statistical support for this claim.

Do most transgender kids want to play sports?

Interest exists, but participation is limited by safety concerns, exclusionary policies, and hostile environments.

Why are transgender athlete statistics important?

Because policy decisions should be based on data, not myths. Current data shows exclusion is a solution in search of a problem.

The Bottom Line

The idea that transgender kids are widely participating in or dominating sports is not supported by evidence.

Very few transgender youth play sports, including at the high school level. Those who do participate for the same reasons as their peers and deserve the same opportunities to experience the physical, social, and mental health benefits of athletics.

If the goal is fairness, well-being, and educational equity, the data points in one direction:

Make sports more accessible, not more exclusionary.

Sources

• Human Rights Campaign. Youth Sports Participation and LGBTQ Youth (2018; 2021)

• GLSEN. National School Climate Survey (2021)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth Physical Activity and Mental Health (2019)

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Sports Participation and Youth Development (2020)