Department of Education Will Investigate State Rule Requiring Biological Girls to Compete against Transgender Girls in Athletics
The federal government has announced it will be investigating claims by three teenage athletes that their state’s policy on transgender competitors is unfair.
The US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has announced that it will be opening up an investigation after a Title IX complaint was filed which asserted that the state’s governing body is violating federal law by allowing biological boys to compete, and win, in girls-only events.
Immediately after the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference introduced a policy allowing biological males to compete in female-only events, several athletes complained that the rules were plainly unfair.
However, despite the majority of people understanding that the new policy put female athletes at a distinct disadvantage, Selina Soule, the chief instigator of the complaint, said that too many were afraid to speak out, fearing fierce backlash.
“Everyone is afraid of retaliation from the media, from kids around their school, from other athletes, coaches, school administrators,” Soule, a junior athlete at Glastonbury High School, told The Daily Signal.
Now, having been granted a federal investigation, the three girls who called out the discriminatory policy have a real chance of getting it reversed.
“Female athletes deserve to compete on a level playing field. Forcing them to compete against boys makes them spectators in their own sports, which is grossly unfair and destroys their athletic opportunities,” said Christiana Holcomb of Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group representing the complainants.
“For that reason, we are pleased that OCR has agreed to investigate. Title IX is a federal law that was designed to eliminate discrimination against women in education and athletics, and women fought long and hard to earn the equal athletic opportunities that Title IX provides. Allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women.”
Holcomb added that no matter how hard the girls train, they remain unable to compete with the physical superiority of male competitors – something that is grossly unfair. “Selina and her fellow female athletes train countless hours in hope of the personal satisfaction of victory, an opportunity to participate in state and regional meets, or a chance at a college scholarship,” Holcomb explained. “But girls competing against boys know the outcome before the race even starts. Boys will always have physical advantages over girls; that’s the reason we have women’s sports and the reason we look forward to OCR’s investigation.”
Photo courtesy: The Daily Signal
Related:
‘No One Thinks it’s Fair,’ Girl Track Star Says after Losing to Transgender Athletes
Title IX Complaint Filed after Connecticut Abolishes Girls-Only Sports
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