Latest news with #WashingtonInterscholasticActivitiesAssociation
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA school district votes to ban transgender athletes from school sports
The Brief The Quilcene School District voted to ban transgender athletes from school sports in a 3-2 decision. The vote came down during a school board meeting on May 7. The decision contradicts WIAA policy allowing participation based on gender identity since 2007. QUILCENE, Wash. - A school district in western Washington has voted to ban transgender athletes from participating in school sports. The Quilcene School District made the decision back on May 7, with a school board meeting ending in a 3-2 vote. Quilcene is a small community south of Port Townsend in Jefferson County. What they're saying The board took comments from parents and students, with many voicing strong opinions. Board members themselves had a tense back-and-forth. "Title 9 is the law," said Quilcene School Board member Ron Frantz. "This is an interpretation, this is not the law," responded Quilcene School Board member Viviann Kuehl. "The law nowhere in it says only biological males can play biological male sports, by tradition. That is not in Title 9." "I'm probably the only one who's read the whole thing of Title 9," Frantz said. "I did myself, it doesn't say that," Kuehl said. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has a policy that allows transgender students to participate in sports programs consistent with their gender identity. The policy has been in place since 2007. FOX 13 Seattle has reached out to the school district regarding the ban. We are waiting to hear back. The Source Information in this story came from a Quilcene School District board meeting, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Recovery effort underway after boat sinks in Possession Sound near Everett, WA Shawn Kemp lawyers claim bias in Tacoma Mall shooting case as trial nears Federal judge blocks Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education 'Where is Teekah?': Mother speaks out after Tacoma, WA cold case Activist marks 2 weeks in tree to protest logging near Port Angeles Driver arrested after deadly crash in Kent, WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WIAA votes against trans athlete policy changes
Apr. 23—RENTON — The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association completed a vote on several different amendments, including two regarding transgender athletes. Both proposed amendments for trans athletes failed during the vote. "Despite the failure of ML/HS No. 7 and ML/HS No. 8, the Association's message remains clear: The WIAA remains committed to following Washington state law and will continue to do so moving forward," reads a statement from the WIAA. "If state law changes in the future, the WIAA Executive Board holds the authority to revise policies accordingly — and now has input from the membership on how to proceed in that event, while remaining in compliance with state law." The vote follows an executive order by President Donald J. Trump filed Feb. 5 titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports." The order states that transgender women can no longer compete in sports that align with their gender identity due to unfair advantages. The order does not address transgender men, born biologically female, from competing in men's sports. "Under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX), educational institutions receiving Federal funds cannot deny women an equal opportunity to participate in sports," Trump wrote in his order. Prior to and following the executive order, several districts across the state, including the Moses Lake School District, wrote letters to the WIAA, the Superintendent of Public Instruction's office and the Washington State Attorney General about the contradiction between state and federal policies. Moses Lake School District Board Chair Kirryn Jensen was contacted for comment in regard to the vote and did not answer by press time, indicating she needed time to review the WIAA's actions prior to responding. Chris Reykdal, Washington state superintendent of public instruction, issued a statement Feb. 6 saying Trump's order contradicts "the Washington Law Against Discrimination, and our laws prohibiting discrimination in our public schools." "One thing is clear: The 47th President of the United States is disregarding the rule of law by attempting to unilaterally impose an attack on the specific student groups that anti-discrimination laws aim to protect," Reykdal wrote in his statement. "... State law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and we will not back down from that." Amendment No. 7 The proposed amendment by the WIAA concerning gender identity participation, as outlined in Amendment No. 7, sought to ensure inclusive athletic opportunities for all students while maintaining fairness in competition. Under this proposed amendment, participation would be categorized into two distinct groups: 'Boys/Open' and 'Girls.' The policy stipulates that "all student-athletes, regardless of sex, gender identity or gender expression, who meet eligibility criteria are allowed to participate in the 'Boys/Open Category.'" However, the amendment failed in a 31-22 vote. For an amendment to pass, 60% of voting members are needed; in this case, 32 votes were needed for the amendment to pass. To preserve competitive equity, the 'Girls Category' would have been restricted to those whose biological sex is female. This delineation aims to protect the integrity of female sports, aiming for a level playing field by addressing potential physical advantages that biological males may possess. However, the amendment also acknowledges potential legal and ethical implications, according to the WIAA. While aiming for inclusivity, the policy's restrictions could provoke legal challenges based on criticisms of discrimination against transgender athletes who may identify as female but are unable to compete in the 'Girls Category.' The rationale behind this policy, derived from a similar model from Alaska, aims to ensure fairness while recognizing the complexities involved in gender identity and its implications in competitive sports. The amendment was proposed by submitted by 14 districts across the state, including the Lynden, Blaine, Brewster, Cashmere, Colville, Grand Coulee Dam, Lake Chelan, Lynden Christian, Mansfield, Mead, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville and Tonasket. Amendment No. 8 The authors of Amendment No. 8 sought to ensure equitable participation for all students in athletic programs consistent with their gender identity. The amendment specifies that athletic programs would have been structured separately for boys, girls, and an open division, promoting fairness while simultaneously considering the complexities of gender identity and biological sex. However, the amendment failed with a 13-40 vote. For an amendment to pass, 60% of voting members would need to vote in favor of the measure; in this case, 32 votes were needed for the amendment to pass. The regulation would have allowed students to participate in a manner that aligns with their gender identity. School personnel would have needed to work collaboratively with student athletes to assess eligibility for participation in boys', girls' or the open division. If granted, the eligibility would have been kept consistent for the duration of the athlete's participation, without a need for yearly renewal. A critical aspect of this amendment would have been the establishment of an open division, designed to preserve equality of opportunity while delineating categories of competition. The amendment acknowledges the disparities in athletic performance that can arise from biological differences, recognizing the importance of maintaining competitive integrity. It notes that various sports organizations have adjusted their policies to address these concerns while also ensuring protection against discrimination. Additionally, the amendment anticipated potential shortcomings, including the possibility of extended competition durations and the logistical challenges associated with inviting athletes from outside the state for participation in the open division. However, proponents argued that the benefits of creating a safe, fair and inclusive environment outweighed such challenges. The amendment was submitted by seven school districts across the state, including Eastmont, Cashmere, Colville, Lynden, Mead, Moses Lake and Thorp. Both the Moses Lake and Warden school districts have recently adjusted policies to align with the President's executive order regarding athletics and trans athletes. Legal challenges may occur as OSPI and the districts move forward with the situation.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lynden School Board formalizes actions opposing transgender athlete policy
Lynden School District Board members passed a resolution at the board's Thursday meeting reaffirming the district's concerns about transgender students participating in women's divisions of school sports and indicating an intent to pursue legal action against the state agency that oversees public K–12 education. The resolution passed on a 4-0 vote, with Board President Jim Verburg absent. The resolution is the latest action by the school board to make changes to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's (WIAA) current gender participation policy after a Lynden female student athlete competed alongside a transgender student who won the 400m girls final at Washington's 2A State Track & Field Championship in May of 2024. The current policy states that 'all students have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.' 'Lynden believes WIAA's current gender participation policy is unworkable and wants to be part of finding a path that is workable,' said Lynden School District Superintendent David VanderYacht in a statement to The Bellingham Herald. Following the state championship, the Lynden School District Board of Directors — along with 13 other districts and boards across Washington, including Blaine School District and Lynden Christian School — submitted proposed amendments to that policy that, if implemented, would effectively disallow transgender girls from participating in girls sports. Instead, the proposed policy creates two categories of competition: Boys/Open and Girls. Proposed Amendments to WIAA gender sports participation policy by Rachel Showalter on Scribd 'All student-athletes regardless of sex, gender identity, or gender expression who meet eligibility criteria are allowed to participate in the 'Boys/Open Category.' However, to maintain fair and equitable competition, participation in the 'Girls Category' is limited to students whose biological sex is female,' the proposed policy amendment states. The proposal states the amendment changes would address 'concerns about potential physical advantages in certain sports' and 'safety concerns that could arise from physical differences in some sports.' Franklin Co. joins growing opposition to transgender athletes in WA sports 'The spirit of the work has been to navigate this complicated and sensitive issue in a manner that honors and respects the dignity of all children,' Superintendent VanderYacht told The Herald. 'We want all students to have opportunity for participation in athletics, but we also think there is an unfair competitive advantage in girls' sports for transgender females who have gone through male puberty.' As of February, WIAA was aware of five transgender student athletes competing in the state, according to reporting by The Seattle Times. In a letter sent to WIAA in March, Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal expressed concern that the proposed amendments would violate Washington state law. 'WIAA must also follow state law, and OSPI is concerned that Proposed Amendments #7 and #8, to be voted on this April, would violate Washington state laws including Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.42 RCW and Chapter 392-190 WAC. We have confidence that WIAA would not implement these amendments if they were to pass in their current form,' Reykdal wrote in the letter. OSPI Letter to WIAA 03.19.25 by Rachel Showalter on Scribd 'Since 2006, Washington state law has prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and since 2007, WIAA's regulations have allowed students to participate in school-based athletics in alignment with their gender identity. Washington state's nondiscrimination law fits squarely within federal nondiscrimination law, and these protections for transgender and gender expansive youth have been implemented without controversy for nearly two decades. The State Superintendent and OSPI are charged with upholding and enforcing state and federal laws in Washington's schools, and we will continue to do so,' OSPI Chief Communications Officer Katy Payne told The Herald. The WIAA Representative Assembly was expected to finish voting on the proposed amendments by April 18, although the organization announced the amendment votes related to gender participation would be 'advisory' only and would not be implemented under current state law. The Herald was awaiting a response on the status of the vote as this article was published. Thursday's resolution, passed by the Lynden School District Board, states that its members are concerned OSPI 'has not upheld Washington's constitutional obligation to prioritize education' and that OSPI's guidelines have 'undermined the authority of local school boards.' The resolution further states that OSPI's actions have 'caused harm to students' and limited parents' rights. The resolution also suggests board members are concerned that compliance with state law may violate federal law, putting the district at risk of losing federal funding. 'School districts are put in a very difficult position when there is strong community advocacy combined with uncertainty of legal interpretations,' Superintendent VanderYacht said. VanderYacht told The Herald that while all humans benefit from community and involvement in activities aligned with the peer groups they most closely connect with, 'it is clear to our girl athletes that competing against other athletes who have gone through male puberty is unfair.' Lynden Resolution #06-25 by Rachel Showalter on Scribd The resolution states that the board plans to take several actions, including: ▪ File a formal Title IX complaint to the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education requesting a directed investigation and enforcement action concerning the application of Title IX, 'with the goal of ensuring equitable treatment and protection for all students.' ▪ File a formal complaint to the U.S. Attorney General's Office outlining concerns regarding the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) policy on gender inclusivity, 'and its potential conflicts with federal Title IX requirements.' ▪ Initiate legal action against OSPI to seek a ruling on whether OSPI's actions, mandates and enforcements related to its gender inclusivity policy 'exceed its statutory authority and/or infringe on the Board's right to operate the District.' The resolution authorizes the district's superintendent to include other interested school districts in that legal action.
Fox News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Washington athletics org's proposals to change trans-athlete policy would violate state law, official says
Washington appears to be the latest state that is getting set for a showdown over its decision to allow biological males to play in girls' and women's sports despite President Donald Trump's executive order in February. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)'s Representative Assembly proposed two amendments to its policies that would keep girls' sports to biological females only and potentially offer an open division if student-athletes were interested. However, WIAA commutations director Sean Bessette said in a statement to The Seattle Times on Tuesday that the proposals would violate state law. "The WIAA has been told by the Attorney General's office, the Office for Civil Rights, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that proposed amendments ML/HS #7 and ML/HS #8 would be a violation under current Washington state law, affirming our attorney's legal review," Bessette told the paper. "The WIAA remains committed to following state law, and those amendments focused on gender-identity participation would not be implemented on August 1 if they were to pass under current state law. "If state law were to change, the WIAA's Executive Board has the authority and would need to alter the Association's rules accordingly." The proposals will be voted on by the 53-person representative assembly but no changes will be made to the rules. The proposals titled ML/HS #7 and ML/HS #8 are strictly advisory votes only. "Amendment would not be implemented under current State Law. Participation in girls' sports would be limited to biological females," the ML/HS #7 proposal read on the athletics organization's website. "Amendment would not be implemented under current State Law. Athletic programs would be offered separately for boys, girls, and an open division for all students interested," ML/HS #8 read. Washington state law requires local educational agencies to allow transgender students to participate in interscholastic sports "that most closely aligns with their gender identity," according to the WIAA. The Kennewick School Board filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights against Washington state's Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal this week. The complaint included a plea for "urgent" federal intervention against the state's ongoing policies that defy Trump's order. Reykdal previously claimed it was "inaccurate" to say there are only two genders during a video address in late February. "It is quite simply inaccurate to say, biologically, that there are only boys and there are only girls," Reykdal said. "There's a continuum. There's a science to this. There are children who are born intersex. There are children whose hormones and whose chromosomes are not consistent with their sex at birth. "Our state laws make clear that children get to identify and participate based on the gender in which they identify. We're going to uphold that law." Reykdal also insisted in that address that Trump does not have the authority as president to issue a ban on trans athletes in girls' sports but conceded the U.S. Congress does. Another school district in Washington opted to take matters into its own hands and defy the state government in late February. The Tumwater School District's board of directors voted 3-1 Feb. 27 to ban trans athletes from playing for girls sports teams after a nationally publicized controversy involving one of its school's girls basketball teams. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tumwater School District bans trans athletes from girls' teams
The Tumwater School District has voted to ban transgender athletes from playing on girls' sports teams. The move comes after two basketball players from the Shelton School District sat out of a game in protest of a trans player on the Tumwater team. In a meeting on Feb. 27, the Tumwater School District landed on a split decision to amend its policy. Three people voted in favor of the change, one voted against it, and another abstained. No one who voted in favor spoke out about their reason, but the person who abstained pointed to President Donald Trump's executive order banning trans athletes as a complicating factor. The order, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' gives federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration's view, which interprets 'sex' as the gender someone was assigned at birth. On the national scale, some argue that trans athletes pose a safety risk for other players. An online petition is calling on the board to reverse the ruling, saying it is discriminatory. At last check, it has over 600 signatures. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which oversees high school sports, is currently reviewing two proposals regarding transgender athlete participation. One idea is to create a separate athletic program specifically for those athletes. The second recommends participation in girls' sports be limited to students who were assigned female at birth. In April, the WIAA will vote on the proposals. You can read the details of the amendments here.
