Campbell Ewald Stacks the Deck Against Hate in Campaign for Lambda Legal

Just weeks ahead of the global summer games, Lambda Legal, Campbell Ewald, and other national partners are launching a new campaign to celebrate transgender athletes and fight the wave of discriminatory bills sweeping state legislatures seeking to ban trans athletes from participating in sports. The Stack the Deck Against Hate campaign is shredding stacks of hateful anti-trans legislation and recycling them into sports trading cards that celebrate and honour trans athletes across the country, sending a powerful message to trans athletes: You are seen, valued, and will never be legislated out of existence.

"Stack the Deck Against Hate comes at a crucial moment as transgender and non-binary athletes and students across the country being attacked by legislators seeking to further degrade and ultimately erase them," said Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings. "This campaign will send a strong and important message to trans athletes across the country: You are valued and will never be legislated out of existence."

Stack the Deck Against Hate will feature four renowned transgender athletes as part of the campaign’s launch, which will raffle off a limited number of the trading card decks to those who donate at StackTheDeckAgainstHate.org. The proceeds will be directed to Lambda Legal to support its vital work: Educating the public about the harmful and real-life consequences that discriminatory anti-trans sports bans have on trans youth and also fighting anti-trans legislation via its hallmark litigation and advocacy campaign strategies.

“Transgender youth play sports for the same reason as their cisgender friends: for the invaluable lessons on teamwork, discipline and leadership, and the incredible mental, physical and social benefits that sports bring,” said Hudson Taylor, Executive Director, Athlete Ally. “The Stack The Deck campaign supports access to the lifesaving power of sports, and every young person deserves a chance to thrive.”

The cards feature personal stories of trans athletes as well as information about how to donate and activate change through resources provided by Lambda Legal. The athletes featured as part of the campaign’s launch include:

- Mack Karam Beggs is the two-time state wrestling champion and featured in Hulu’s “Changing The Game” documentary, as well as “Mack Wrestles” on ESPN’s 30 for 30 short films.

- Fallon Fox is the first openly trans professional mixed martial artist.

- Patricio “Pat” Manuel is a five-time national amateur boxing champion and 2012 Olympic trial participant. 

- Grace Siobahn McKenzie plays for the Golden Gate Women’s Rugby Football Club in San Francisco and is also their rookie and recruitment coordinator.