A school board president in Washington is speaking out against the inclusion of transgender athletes in girls’ sports, arguing that it is exclusive rather than inclusive. Gabe Galbraith, who leads the Kennewick School Board, recently passed a resolution affirming the board’s stance that biological males should not compete with biological females in sports.
The resolution emphasizes fairness in competition and student safety, defining ‘sex’ as biological male or biological female as determined at birth. It also states that biological males should not participate in biological females’ sports, highlighting the inherent biological differences and abilities between males and females.
The decision to pass this resolution came after a transgender runner won the girls’ 400-meter sprint at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state track and field meet. Despite the resolution being inspired by President Biden’s Title IX revisions, Galbraith acknowledged that the track meet influenced the timing of its release.
Galbraith expressed the importance of taking a stand on this issue, encouraging other school boards to follow suit and inspire real change. The resolution has received support from locals and city council members, signaling a potential shift in the way transgender athletes are included in girls’ sports.
While the WIAA policy allows athletes to compete based on their gender identity without requiring hormone therapy or blockers, the Kennewick School Board’s resolution aims to prioritize the protection of girls’ sports and ensure a level playing field for all athletes. This decision sets a precedent in Washington state and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding transgender inclusion in sports.
As discussions around transgender athletes in girls’ sports continue to evolve, it is clear that more school boards and organizations are taking a stand to uphold the integrity and fairness of competitive sports. The resolution passed by the Kennewick School Board serves as a starting point for broader conversations and actions aimed at addressing the challenges and complexities of gender inclusion in athletics.
