Cold Front Frisbee Team Champions Gender Inclusion in Open Letter

On February 8, 2026, Cold Front, the ultimate frisbee team representing women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming athletes at Bates College, issued a public statement urging USA Ultimate (USAU) to uphold its Gender Inclusion Policy. The team expressed strong opposition to any potential changes that could exclude transgender student-athletes from competition. Their statement, shared via Instagram, emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in the sport.

In their post, the team stated, “We join those urging USA Ultimate to uphold its Gender Inclusion Policy and resist any political pressure to roll back protections for trans and nonbinary players.” This position comes as USAU faces pressure to align its policies with new federal guidelines following the implementation of Executive Order 14201, signed by former President Donald Trump on February 5, 2025. The order threatens federal funding to educational institutions that allow transgender women athletes to compete in women’s sports, prompting various sports organizations, including the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to revise their policies accordingly.

Despite these changes, USAU has not yet modified its policy. According to an article published by Ultiworld in July 2025, if USAU is compelled to change its gender policy to comply with USOPC guidelines, it may face a choice between maintaining its affiliation with the US Olympic Committee and adhering to its commitment to inclusivity. Currently, USAU’s 2026 college guidelines state that players who identify as non-binary or prefer to self-report their gender identity can compete in the division where they feel most comfortable and safe.

Should USAU adopt USOPC-compliant policies, it would have significant implications for Cold Front members who are not assigned female at birth, potentially barring them from participating in regional and national competitions. In response to concerns over potential policy changes, collegiate ultimate frisbee teams across the nation have signed an open letter to USAU. This letter pledges that if USAU alters its policies to exclude transgender athletes, the signatory teams will withdraw from all USAU events.

As of now, the letter has garnered 114 signatures from various teams, along with individual supporters through a separate Google Form. Cold Front’s decision to sign the letter followed a team vote on December 3, 2025. Celia Horowitz, a member of the team’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement committee (DE-ICE), explained that the discussions about the policy spanned several months before reaching a consensus.

The initiative to sign the open letter originated from Shiver, Brown University’s team for women and gender-expansive players, who aimed to demonstrate solidarity for trans athletes at the collegiate level. Team members expressed that the presence of trans athletes is vital to their experience. “Cold Front is a welcoming and inclusive space, and signing this open letter puts action behind that promise,” said Horowitz.

Meanwhile, the men’s ultimate frisbee team at Bates, known as Orange Whip, has also engaged in discussions about the gender inclusion policy. Although they did not conduct a formal team vote on the matter, team captains made it clear that none of them, as individuals, would participate in USAU events should the policies change. Captain Matt Riseman emphasized the team’s commitment to fostering a positive community, stating, “We’re obsessed with the culture and how to make Orange Whip the most awesome, loving, best community possible.”

While the teams operate within separate divisions dictated by gender, they share a common ethos in ultimate frisbee. “The spirit of the game is rooted in inclusivity,” remarked Cold Front member Luca Bernardin. Several players expressed their personal experiences with inclusivity within the team, highlighting how Cold Front has created a supportive environment for all participants, regardless of gender identity.

Aidan Stark-Chessa, a captain of Orange Whip, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Ultimate is about spirit, and that spirit extends to how we treat one another as teammates.”

As the spring collegiate regional and national tournaments approach, the outcome of USAU’s policy decisions remains uncertain. The players remain hopeful that their actions will inspire other ultimate leagues and teams to advocate for inclusivity within the sport. Cold Front concluded their Instagram announcement by affirming their commitment to uplifting and standing with the trans and nonbinary communities, emphasizing that “the frisbee field should be a place of joy and community, not fear and divisiveness.”

The ongoing discussions surrounding gender identity and inclusion in sports highlight a pivotal moment for ultimate frisbee, as players and teams grapple with the challenge of maintaining their values in the face of external pressures.