I say again, please reconsider this.
The debate over the University Interscholastic League’s policy for transgender athletes continues after the organization’s legislative council took no action during Tuesday’s meeting in Round Rock.
The UIL rule stating a student’s gender is identified by his or her birth certificate is scheduled to go into effect Aug. 1 after district superintendents and athletic directors voted 409-25 in favor in February, but LGBT advocates believe the rule violates Title IX and the UIL Constitution.
The UIL is part of the University of Texas at Austin and abides by its constitution, which prohibits gender identity discrimination.
LGBT advocates are lobbying to allow students to participate in sports under whichever gender they identify with and delay implementation of the new policy. The UIL opted to table the debate for a later date considering pending litigation.
See here, here, and here for the background. Given the current climate of potty hysteria, I don’t expect the UIL to reconsider. I almost can’t blame them, however un-courageous they’re being. This one will be resolved in the courts, sometime after the policy becomes official in August. It’s just where we are these days.
Kuff, do you really think it would be reasonable for a male who identifies as female to compete against girls, when their body is still male? Would you be happy if your daughters’ softball/volleyball/whatever team had to face a team with a couple of transgendered folks who were faster, taller, and stronger than the average biological female?
I am in favor of the “use the bathroom you identify with” rules, but oppose rules that allow biological males to compete on girls teams, or situations where genitalia will be mixed and in view (open locker rooms). Give everyone their own curtained area to change in, and then I will likely be less opposed.
Ross, I think the UIL should follow the NCAA’s guidelines on this. I admit that this is a trickier situation than the phony bathroom issue, but the NCAA and multiple other high school athletic associations have worked something out. Let’s follow their lead.
There will always be girls who are faster, stronger and taller than the average biological female.
I tend to agree with Ross, but I am not an expert in endocrinology and would welcome a thorough expert analysis on the potential advantages of transgender athletes.
This may be the only area of public policy where someone’s status as transgender might matter.