Good for Baltimore Women's Rugby

Ever since Trump re-entered the White House in January 2025, one of his biggest targets has been the trans community. He and the GOP have been going after them, trying to strip away their rights and their dignity. In some ways it feels like they've become the right's punching bags which is upsetting in so many ways. But then I see articles like this one, and it brings me joy to see a group of women essentially snubbing their noses at them, and continuing on.

Sidelining the trans women players was never an option, Pizzo said. The Ferals have an internal credo to be radically inclusive. No one on the team wished to comply with a USA Rugby policy they felt was unjust.

“We’re not going to forfeit matches,” Pizzo said. “We’re gonna show up as we are. We’re gonna shoulder that burden for our players.”

The real choice, as Pizzo saw it, was whether the Ferals would try to compete anyway — hoping they wouldn’t be noticed — or whether they would make lots of noise and shame USA Rugby for its decision.

There was not much hesitation.

“I’m ready to keep playing rugby until they drag me off the field,” 38-year-old forward Christa Robison said. “I was like, ‘You can pry this ball out of my cold, dead hands.’”

The Ferals quickly found out just how many teams and players were on their side.

Trans rights are human rights, and it's important to stand strong with them and offer support.