Florida's sports authorities crack down on transgender athletes
In a three-page letter to the interim principal of Monarch High School, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) accused the school of violating both the Women's Sports Fairness Act of the state and their own constitution, which both prohibit "biological males" from joining public high school girls' teams competing in sports events. According to the letter, the transgender student participated in 33 volleyball matches over the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.
As of November 2024, the student will no longer be eligible to represent a member school, as stated in the correspondence.
Transgender girls are barred from participating in girls' sports teams at public schools in Florida, as per the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021. DeSantis has also signed various laws targeting Transgender youth and adults, including restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare.
Broward County School District temporarily dismissed the school principal and other staff while investigating the matter. In a statement to CNN, an attorney representing the student's family expressed doubt about the constitutionality of the act and its foundations in anti-transgender bias. The vague assertions of fairness and equality by the FHSAA ring hollow, they said.
CNN was informed by Broward County Schools that they have received the association's letter and an investigation is underway. School officials have ten working days to challenge the decision, according to the letter.
Florida student-athletes must fill out a medical evaluation form and undergo a physical examination before participating in sports, which is reviewed and submitted to the athletic association. The five-page form requests the individual's birth-assigned gender. It is unclear how the student responded to the form's questions.
The decision comes amidst a recent backlash against laws specifically targeting Transgender students and their participation in school sports, particularly in Republican-led states. In April, the US House of Representatives proposed a bill that would prohibit Transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' sports in state-funded schools and educational institutions. While it is unlikely that the bill will be passed by the Democrat-controlled Senate, the White House has issued a veto threat.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, over 500 Anti-LGBTQ laws are being monitored across the country, which include restrictions on public restroom access and certain healthcare services.
Courtesy of: CNN
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Despite the student participating in 33 volleyball matches across the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, the Florida High School Athletic Association alleged a violation of both the Women's Sports Fairness Act of the state and their association's rules, which exclude "biological males" from public high school girls' teams participating in sports competitions.
However, the eligibility of the student to represent a member school will cease from November 2024, as per the correspondence.
The transgender policy in Florida bars transgender female athletes from participating in female sports teams at public schools, a provision of the "Fairness in Women’s Sports Act" enacted in 2021 by Governor Ron DeSantis, which aligns with Donald Trump's executive order barring transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The enforcement of this policy remains in question due to ongoing legal challenges and inconsistent interpretations in various states.
