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Decision Comes Following Standing Room Only School Board Meeting July 25
Disclosure: Writer is on the board of the PTA of Methow Valley.
Superintendent Tom Venable denied PTA of Methow Valley’s request to put on the agenda at the next school board meeting a discussion concerning biological males competing against biological females in middle and high school sport competitions. He also denied a request to have all school board members state on record where they stand with regard to biological boys competing against biological girls.
The issue will impact the fall sports season should a biological male compete on an LBHS girls’ sports team.
The issue of biological males, who carry XY chromosomes, competing against biological females, who have XX chromosomes, has been controversial not only in the Olympic arena, but also this past spring when a biological boy on the Liberty Bell Middle School team won cross country and track and field league meets. A regional track and field meet in Cashmere received national attention from Riley Gaines, who blasted the arrangement.
In an email denying the request, Superintendent Tom Venable referred to School Board Directors Frank Kline, Judith Hardmeyer-Wright, and Jennifer Zbyszewski’s comments at the end of the candidate forum in Twisp Valley Grange this past fall in which they stated their support for a student athlete’s participation with the sports team that most represented their gender of choice.
“Board members have addressed this matter previously, clarifying their individual and collective commitment to uphold the laws and policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,” Venable said in an email.
“Some would suggest their decisive victories reflect the community’s strong support for their approach,” he added.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association is the governing body for middle and high school sports in Washington. It was founded in 1905 to create “equitable playing conditions between high school sports teams in Washington.” Section 18.16.0, entitled Gender Identity Participation, states,
“All students have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity. Currently, most athletic programs are offered separately for boys and girls as outlined in Appendix 1. Athletes will participate in programs consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed. School personnel responsible for student eligibility will work collaboratively with the student-athlete to determine eligibility. Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with their gender identity, the eligibility is granted for the duration of the student’s participation and does not need to be renewed every sports season or school year. The WIAA staff is willing to collaborate with any member school seeking assistance regarding gender equity.”
The only way to ensure girls are competing with other biological girls is for school boards to submit a request for an amendment, which the superintendent, the liaison for the school board, denied. Two school board seats, currently held by Dana Stromberger and Gary Marchbank, will be up for re-election next year.
The next school board meeting will be held August 29 at the district office next to the elementary school.
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It is obvious the equity only goes one way, supporting those who want to compete in sports according to gender identity not whether they are a biological male or female. This is considered gender affirming. However as with diversity, inclusion and equity the direction goes with the person who is considered oppressed; in this case the one struggling with their gender identity. In reality to make this decision the biological female must become the oppressed person. There is however a better arbitrator for this situation called truth and reality. One truth is the physiology argument, the existence of the biological equipment associated with male XY chromosomes compared to female XX chromosomes which together are an indicator of gender and sexual identity. The associated factor with truth and reality is the moral one, fairness is defined in sports is competition between members of the same physiological sex or an even playing field. This means a mental construct that a biological male believes he (her) is actually a female must give way to the truth of physical reality since any competition to be meaningful must be engaged within physical reality. Being truthful and moral with those struggling with gender identity in reality is more compassionate than maintaining the lie.