Three cases, three states, one crisis: men hijacking women’s sports—on the field and in the courts.
Despite President Donald Trump’s executive order barring men from competing in female athletics, men continue to intrude. In fact, resistance to Trump’s emergency order emerged almost immediately, with some school districts publicly proclaiming their intentions to defy the order. This all came before the unanimous vote by Senate Democrats against safeguarding girls’ sports. As a result, the harm biological men are doing to female athletes marches on, and three recent cases put a spotlight on the ongoing controversy.
In one case from late February, a teenager at a Washington State high school was investigated for refusing to play against a biological male who was competing on a girls’ basketball team. Because of her opposition, she was accused of “bullying” and “harassment” for allegedly “misgendering” the male-born student. While officials in the district refused to remove the boy from the girls’ team, they were quick to accuse the teenager who was uncomfortable as being guilty of “gender-identity-based discrimination.” So far, it’s unclear whether this investigation has ended as the student’s season hangs in limbo.
Meanwhile, in California, another case unfolded this week in which a trans-identifying boy competed in a girls’ track triple jump event. Not only do parents complain that he stole first place, but he did so by a monstrous 8-foot margin from the female competitors. California is one of the states that has vowed not to comply with Trump’s executive order, which would explain why so many similar instances are taking place elsewhere in the Golden State.
As The Post Millennial reported, “Jurupa Valley High School junior AB Hernandez secured first place at the Ontario Relays invitational meet on Feb. 22 with a jump exceeding 40 feet. The second-place competitor recorded a jump of just over 32 feet. Hernandez also won the high jump and long jump events at the same meet.”
And now, in Pennsylvania, this fiery controversy has gone from tracks to courtrooms. After a Quakertown Community High School athlete was beaten on multiple occasions by male-born athlete Luce Allen, her mom decided to file a complaint on the grounds that her daughter had been stripped of her constitutional and 14th amendment rights. The lawsuit requested a temporary restraining order “to halt biological males from participating in women’s sports.” Not only did the Colonial School District oppose the suit, but this week, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone flat-out denied the request altogether.
Attorneys for the female student argued that, should Allen continue competing, fairness in the sport is compromised. Despite outlining specific ways this girl—and other female athletes—could be affected by Allen’s participation, the judge ultimately ruled that the motion was “too broad.” After the Colonial District denied to comment further, a Quakertown spokesperson stated Friday that “it is not within our power to control the actions of another school.” But as the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted, the “school district said this week it would continue to follow its policy allowing transgender students to participate on sports teams matching their gender identities.”
The judge’s decision drew sharp criticism from The Independent Council on Women’s Sports. They emphasized in a statement: “[A]llowing a male athlete to take a deserving girl’s spot in any race sends a clear message to every girl in that arena—you don’t matter.” Ultimately, they added, “Legislators, PIAA board members, principals, and athletic directors ignoring the President’s executive order are not only failing girls but also risking millions in federal education funding if the administration follows through on its promise to defund states that defy Title IX.”
Macy Petty, a Concerned Women for America legislative assistant and NCAA volleyball athlete, also weighed in. As she told The Washington Stand, all these instances point to the need for “urgent, comprehensive Title IX enforcement.” She went on to explain that “President Trump has been clear that school districts allowing males to compete as women will lose their federal funding. Federal Title IX law is clear too. Taxpayers should never facilitate sex discrimination that subjects women to injury and jeopardizes their future opportunities.”
“These are high school girls,” Petty emphasized. For many, “they work their entire lives to impress the college scouts sitting in the stands. But instead of a truly competitive opportunity that reflects her potential, the scouts are left to stack her up against a male opponent. This injustice has always been an egregious violation of Title IX.” At least now, she added, “we have a president willing to recognize it. … [H]is administration must wield every possible tool to put an end to this.” Ultimately, “every state and district turning their backs on girls in sports should feel heat radiating from the White House.”
Moving forward, Petty emphasized that “urgent action can’t stop with Title IX enforcement,” but must be enforced through additional legislation. “Concerned Women for America LAC is working hard to pass lasting protections for female athletes at every level. A strong majority of Americans (79% according to a New York Times/Ipsos poll), regardless of political affiliation, see clearly on this issue, and we’re continuing to count up legislative wins across the states.”
“These high school cases only keep the issue alive,” Petty concluded. “Republican majorities in Congress appear committed to action so long as Democrats continue to obstruct.”
Originally published by The Washington Stand.
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