Alaska Education Board Delays Decision on Transgender Girls’ Participation in High School Sports
The Alaska State Board of Education has decided to postpone their decision on a proposal that would prevent transgender girls from participating in high school girls’ athletic teams. The board members expressed the need for more time to consider the issue, prompting the delay. The proposal has faced strong opposition, with opponents calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. They believe that it will likely lead to litigation. On the other hand, supporters, including Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy, argue that the proposal is necessary to ensure fairness in girls’ sports.
The board held a 2 1/2 hour public testimony session, along with receiving approximately 1,400 pages of written testimony prior to the meeting. Afterward, they went into executive session to further deliberate on the matter. Several board members indicated their preference for postponing action on the proposed rule at the current meeting, but addressing the issue during a future special meeting.
At least 22 states in the US have laws in place that prevent transgender girls from participating on girls’ teams in K-12 schools. Additionally, lawmakers in North Carolina are preparing to override the veto of a similar law by their Democratic Governor. Some of these laws also restrict transgender boys from joining boys’ teams, and in some cases, extend the ban to college athletics.
It’s important to note that Alaska’s proposal is not tied to any enacted legislation. Previous similar proposals in the state have either failed to gain traction or have died in the state Legislature. State Senator Shelley Hughes, a Republican, expressed her support for the proposed rules, stating that they aim to prioritize the best interests of all students and athletes while ensuring that no one is marginalized.
One school district in Alaska, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough district, has already adopted a policy that restricts transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams. This district is located in a socially conservative area of the state and is the hometown of both Governor Dunleavy and Senator Hughes.
Earlier this year, the board of education passed a resolution calling on the Department of Education and Early Development to develop rules that prioritize fairness and safety in sports while allowing all students to participate. The resolution proposed the creation of a girls division based on sex assigned at birth, a division for athletes who identify with either sex or gender, and an appeals process for all students.
However, the proposed rule under consideration is more concise, stipulating that if a high school has a team for girls, participation should be limited to females who were assigned female at birth. Advocacy groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, have raised concerns over the differences between the proposed rule and the board’s resolution. They argue that both approaches are problematic and raise privacy and due process issues.
Supporters of transgender rights, including the mother of a transgender girl, emphasize the emotional toll this debate takes on transgender children and their families. They criticize the attacks made by elected officials and call for the protection of basic human rights.
Proponents of the proposed rule, including Governor Dunleavy, argue that interscholastic activities go beyond the boundaries of a single school district. They believe that the rule is necessary to ensure fairness, safety, and equal opportunities for female athletes.
The decision to delay further action on the proposed rule allows the board more time to deliberate on this contentious issue. The final outcome remains uncertain, but the board’s decision may have far-reaching implications regarding transgender students’ participation in high school sports in Alaska.
