MEAD, Wash. — The Mead School Board has passed aimed at preventing transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
However, this resolution does not change Mead’s current participation policies, as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) still allows students to play on teams that align with their gender identity.
The resolution raises concerns about the “safety” of female athletes and “fairness in competition.” It states, “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.”
With this resolution, Mead joins a growing number of school districts across Washington that are pushing for changes to WIAA policies on gendered sports participation. The resolution also calls on the WIAA “to have open dialogue and discussion with its membership in order to restore fairness to all students.”
