A Washington school district has become the first in the state to pass a resolution affirming its belief in banning transgender girls from competing in women’s sports.
The Kennewick School District voted to approve the motion at a board meeting last month.
The resolution states that “biological males should not participate in biological female sports and that there are inherent biological differences and abilities between biological males and biological females and is committed to protecting women’s sports.”
The measure simply reaffirms the board’s stance and is not capable of overturning the state’s trans-inclusive policy. Chairman Gabe Galbraith said it was passed to “take a stand.”
“We have too many people who are sitting on the sidelines and not voicing their concerns,” he said. Fox News.
The president of the Kennewick School District made his district the first in Washington to pass a resolution to ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
“Hopefully, we can get many other school boards to join this resolution and maybe make some change.”
The resolution was drafted after a transgender runner won the 400-meter race at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state track and field meet.
WIAA policy states that athletes may compete in a division “consistent with their gender identity or most consistently expressed gender” without being on hormone therapy.
“We’re told that’s never going to happen in our state. It’s never going to happen. And then it happens,” Galbraith said.
‘And then we were able to come out and oppose it with our resolution, which is really just our board saying we don’t support it.
“We have to try to work with our legislators and others to make some changes and determine what the next step is.”
The motion was approved at a school board meeting on June 26 where parents, athletes and coaches spoke.
Kamiakin High School coach Cheryl Schawbel spoke at a board meeting on June 26, where she expressed concerns about allowing transgender girls to compete in female categories.
Kamiakin High School coach Cheryl Schawbel said she knew of colleagues who left their profession because of current rules on inclusion.
“We’re seeing more of these athletes participating and denying girls participation in those same events,” she said.
‘Let’s follow the science. It’s destroying athletics and girls’ and women’s racing. It’s not safe and it’s violating girls’ right to play.’
House Speaker Lisa Peppard also questioned whether the policy was necessary given the small proportion of transgender students.
“Do we have transgender athletes in our district?” she asked. “Do you understand the legal issues surrounding transgender athletes and Title 9? I encourage this board to fully educate itself on its role and the WIAA rules.”
He referenced Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox, who vetoed a ban on transgender sports because his state had only four transgender athletes among 85,000 schoolchildren.
He said that for four kids who are simply trying to find some friends and feel like they are part of something, four kids trying to get by each day, rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few.
The resolution simply affirms the school district’s stance that the state still has trans-inclusive sports policies.
Kara Noakes, a transgender mother of four, warned the policy could harm an already vulnerable group of children.
‘I ask that you stop attacking LGBTQIA+ students in this district.’
Kara Noakes, a transgender mother of four, warned the policy could harm an already vulnerable group of children.
“I find it very funny that once again we find ourselves in a “The stance was one of zealous school board members attempting to defy the state’s position and rules, which will only impact an already marginalized and at-risk population,” he said.
The debate around trans inclusion in sport has been raging for several years and has been fueled recently by new Biden administration rules clarifying that Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The policy states that LGBTQ+ students who face discrimination should bring the issue to their school under Title IX protections and also seek recourse from the federal government.
The debate was reignited this week when Nikki Hiltz, a nonbinary transgender runner, qualified for the U.S. Olympic team after winning the women’s 1,500-meter trail race over the weekend.
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