Rights This Way is a podcast from the New York Civil Liberties Union (the ACLU of New York State) focused on the civil rights and liberties issues that impact New Yorkers most. Through interviews and lively conversations with experts inside and outside the NYCLU, we discuss the legal and policy implications of some of the most important issues facing our state.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rights This Way is a podcast from the New York Civil Liberties Union (the ACLU of New York State) focused on the civil rights and liberties issues that impact New Yorkers most. Through interviews and lively conversations with experts inside and outside the NYCLU, we discuss the legal and policy implications of some of the most important issues facing our state.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some of us might think that the fight for trans people’s right to play sports is new. But a recent book, “The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports” delves into the history of this debate that has lasted the better part of a century at least.
Now the Trump administration is threatening states with funding cuts and other sanctions if they allow trans people to play sports on teams that align with their gender identity. It’s just one element of Trump’s full-scale war on trans people’s existence. But as we’ll hear, these types of campaigns have a deep-rooted history with ties to the Nazis.
In an interview that we recorded before Trump took office, we talk with the book’s author, Michael Waters about this history and what it tells us about our current efforts to secure trans people’s rights in athletics and beyond.
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Resources:
The Other Olympians: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374609818/theotherolympians/
NYCLU Roller Rebels case: https://www.nyclu.org/resources/campaigns-actions/campaigns/stand-trans-athletes-nassau-county
Trump’s attack on trans athletes: https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/inside-trumps-full-force-approach-to-ban-trans-athletes-and-dei-in-schools/2025/04
For more on everything we discuss in this episode, visit www.nyclu.org/
For transcripts and additional information on the episodes, visit www.nyclu.org/podcasts
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.