Join me in opposing a change to high school sports targeting trans-athletes

The deadline is Thursday to register to give public comments to the Board of Directors of the Alaska School Activities Association about the proposed ban of trans-girls from high school athletics.

As I write this I am angry. Not a day goes by without another example of the politically driven campaign targeting transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Today, I learned that the Alaska School Activities Association Board of Directors will consider a bylaw change at next week’s meeting that bans trans-girls from girls’ high school sports.

The proposed bylaw change could have far-reaching negative consequences for high school sports in Alaska.

First, it is discrimination plain and simple. That means the bylaw change should be challenged in court.

Second, the proposed bylaw change could result in several school districts leaving the Alaska School Activities Association. This would be a tremendous loss for high school athletes in Anchorage and the entire state. The anti-trans bylaw violates Anchorage’s non-discrimination ordinance. In Anchorage, we don’t permit discrimination on the basis of sex and gender. Anchorage’s code specifically prohibits discrimination in educational institutions. The Anchorage School District and other school districts in communities with non-discrimination ordinances will be openly violating their local ordinances if the proposed bylaw change is approved and they continue to participate in ASAA.

What makes this so infuriating is that it is entirely unnecessary. Trans-girls are not pushing their way into high school sports seeking some sort of competitive advantage. Instead, trans girls are just like other high school students who are trying to find their way in an uncertain world. Many high school students find great comfort in athletics and it is unfair to limit a student’s participation based on some outdated concept of gender.

Furthermore, the proposed bylaw change harms all girls. Any young girl who doesn’t look typical or fit a typical expectation of girlhood is at risk. Every person in Alaska has the right to privacy and the right to equal protection under the law and I fear what will happen next if we permit the erosion of our constitutional right to privacy.

I support the current ASAA policy on participating in school sports because it emphasizes local control by allowing every community, district, and person to make the choice that is right for them. Unfortunately, the proposed ASAA bylaw change seeks to override policies set by local school boards in favor of an approach that inserts government officials into the decision-making process. Participating in high school sports is a decision best made by students and parents, not bureaucrats and politicians.

The proposed bylaw change targeting trans-students will be taken up during the Alaska School Activities Association Board of Directors meeting that will be held on October 9-10 in Anchorage at the Special Olympics building at 3200 Mountain View Drive. Click here to review the agenda for the meeting.

ASAA is asking those who want to provide public comments to email board@asaa.org by Thursday, October 5. Public comments will be taken at 9:15 a.m. on both October 9 and October 10. Public comments can be made by calling 1-253-215-8782 and entering the meeting ID: 854 0563 4005 # and then entering the passcode: 099491.

Please join me in speaking up in favor of trans-athletes and in opposition to sanctioned discrimination.