MEAD, Wash. — The Mead School Board is set to discuss a resolution on Monday night that shows its opposition to transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports in Washington state schools.
The resolution points to the “safety” of female athletes and “fairness in competition.”
“Whereas there have been numerous instances demonstrating the threat to injury to female athletes from competition against male athletes who identify as transgender in a wide range of female sport; and male athletes who identify as transgender have outstripped female competitors in state national and international settings, gaining award and recognition inconsistent with their ability relative to same-sex peers and causing female athletes to lose similar benefit for their performance,” the resolution said.
If passed, the resolution wouldn’t change Mead’s current sports policies. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) allows students to compete on teams “that is consistent with their gender identity.”
This resolution would add Mead to a list of school districts backing an effort to change WIAA policies on gendered sports participation. The initial proposal for amendment comes from the Lynden School District, which passed on Oct. 7 with support from 13 other school districts, according to the district’s website.
The board will consider the resolution at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Union Event Center at 12509 North Market Street, Building D, in Mead.
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