On the back of the sports section, the Minnesota’s largest newspaper published an ad from the Minnesota Child Protection League targeting a proposed policy to allow transgender students participate in high school athletics.

The Minnesota Child Protection League, an anti-LGBT group that opposes LGBT inclusion in the state’s public schools, bought an ad in the Sunday Star Tribune. The ad says, “A male wants to shower next to your 14 year old daughter. Are you okay with that?”

The ad is part of a push by MNCPL to stop the Minnesota State High School League from passing a policy that would provide inclusion for transgender athletes. The Catholic Church and the religious right have mounted a campaign to block it. In the process, they’ve perpetuated false stereotypes about transgender people, including the myth that transgender students will prey on fellow students in locker rooms, showers, restrooms, and hotel rooms. According to many law enforcement, civil rights, and sexual assault prevention organizations, the idea that transgender inclusion will put anyone at risk is unfounded.

The Minnesota State High School League is “a voluntary, nonprofit association of public and private schools with a history of service to Minnesota’s high school youth since 1916.” The MSHSL oversees much of the athletics in the state.

According to the proposed policy, transgender high school students can play on the team of their choice (male or female) but have to have a physician’s documentation and in some cases must have begun hormone therapy to “preserve competitive equity.” The MSHSL policy also provides transgender students avenues for corrective action if a school district does not comply.

The MSHSL will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and Thursday, Oct. 2, to discuss — and possibly approve — the policy.

Minnesota is by no means the first state to have its high school activities association consider such a policy. Associations in Illinois, California, Maine, Colorado, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut have had similar policies for several years. Even associations in states that are considered conservative have adopted such policies including Nebraska in 2012, and North Carolina and Virginia in 2014. Minnesota’s neighbors to the south and west have also approved of the policies. Iowa approved similar policies earlier this spring. The South Dakota High School Activities Association approved such recommendations in June.

As the Star Tribune’s Sunday edition hit newsstands, the reaction on social media was swift with many people saying they were ending their subscriptions:

I'm ready to cancel my @StarTribune Sunday subscription over the ridiculous anti-transgender ad they allowed in today's paper. — Van Myers (@MyFansanity) September 28, 2014

Yeah, this is a subscription-ender, Strib. pic.twitter.com/pzgZRPoZE9 — Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) September 28, 2014

Ad casting trans students as aggressors when they're often viciously targeted is horrid. Why did @StarTribune publishers amplify that hate? — Julie Blaha (@julieblaha) September 28, 2014

Poor decision @StarTribune running that full page anti-trans ad. Do better. — Zack Farley (@zackfarley) September 28, 2014

I really hope the @StarTribune issues an apology for this abomination of an ad. Disgusting level of misinformation pic.twitter.com/LWXdhSHhwe — Patrick Fenelon 🌹 (@Patrick_Fenelon) September 28, 2014

These people are terrible "@WentRogue: Meet the people behind the full-page transphobic ad in today’s @StarTribune: http://t.co/3Qc619islZ" — Daniel Laurison (@Daniel_Laurison) September 28, 2014

Stand up for trans students by rejecting Child Protection League fear. Facts on @MSHSL work for fairness: http://t.co/G28DYlbX5C via @andymn — Julie Blaha (@julieblaha) September 28, 2014

"child protection league" don't say you're protecting children if it's only the cis ones — your dream girl (@venom_babe) September 28, 2014

.@_NickRogers_ Child Protection League Action in Mankato. — Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) September 28, 2014

https://twitter.com/swirlspice/status/516242882840100864

Correct: http://t.co/INlJNjs8qD “@justsayOV23: @dbrauer seen that umbrella used by other conservative orgs. wonder if there’s a connection” — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

Meet the people behind the full-page transphobic ad in today’s @StarTribune: http://t.co/2eV7ivVZC0 — Stacey Burns (@WentRogue) September 28, 2014

@dbrauer @puellavulnerata may I interest your schools in an amazing and cost-effective invention called shower curtains — Melissa 💫 (@0xabad1dea) September 28, 2014

Closed-circuit to Strib sports and news desk: if you haven’t done a deep dive on the MSHSL trans-athlete issue & its opponents …get going. — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

If you’re pissed about the ad – and you have every right to be – a boycott is valid, but I’d suggest getting in publisher’s face first. — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

I totally get people ending Strib puchases over anti-trans ad. But consider things like child abuse investigation that changed state policy. — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

Really good point. Violation of Strib policy. “@chris_steller: @WentRogue @dbrauer There’s no line at the top that says ”Advertisemenr“” — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

Really good point. Violation of Strib policy. “@chris_steller: @WentRogue @dbrauer There’s no line at the top that says ”Advertisemenr“” — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

Does Strib usually split Sunday Sports into 2 sections or did CPLA ad backpage placement force it (due to Outdoors)? pic.twitter.com/b9MwmsP0P8 — Chris Steller (@chris_steller) September 28, 2014

Does Strib usually split Sunday Sports into 2 sections or did CPLA ad backpage placement force it (due to Outdoors)? pic.twitter.com/b9MwmsP0P8 — Chris Steller (@chris_steller) September 28, 2014

Got call in to @StarTribune marketing VP seeking comment on anti-transgender ad. In past the paper has refused to comment in similar cases. — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 28, 2014

https://twitter.com/ViaMarsala18/status/516242692620451840

Full-page People Against Transgendered People ad in Strib sports section. Mankato-based Child Protection LeagueAction pic.twitter.com/JuWhzK5W0C — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

“@MyLittleBloggie: Opponents of MN transgender athletes hit the showers http://t.co/jwqB0Ww6x7 (NewsCut blog post)” Thanks, Bob! #shameful — Eric Meininger (@Dr_Eric) September 28, 2014