·         Be accepting of all students

·         Respect students’ values, beliefs, sexual orientation,                 and gender identity

Emerging Issue
Right now, there is much discussion about hormone therapy and unfair advantages. It will be interesting to see how high school sports organizations and schools propose to monitor hormone therapy in minor students. The bloodwork required for monitoring hormone levels can be costly, and who will be responsible for those charges? This is also a somewhat invasive procedure, requiring blood to be drawn- what will happen if a parent refuses to give consent for the test?

C. Williams, Athletic Director, Nordheim ISD

·         A female student may participate in sports designated for the males if a corresponding female athletic competition is not offered or available

·         Biological sex is verified with official birth certificate or other government document

Tex. Educ. Code § 33.0834

·         Students are expected to participate in a wide range of individual sports

·         Students should exhibit competency in two or more sports from the following choices; aquatics, archery, badminton, bicycling, bowling, gymnastics, golf, handball, racquetball, self-defense, table-tennis, track and field, weight training, and wrestling

·         Students are expected to select and participate in individual sports for enjoyment and challenge

·         Students are expected to respond to challenges, successes, and failures in socially appropriate ways

·         Students are expected to accept successes and performance limitations of others as well as themselves

Individual Sports, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 116.55

·         17 states allow transgender high school athletes to compete without restrictions

·         Seven states restrict transgender athletes participation- limiting them to compete under the gender assigned at birth

·         The major concern is fairness- transgender students have the right to compete and cisgender athletes have the right to compete and be successful

Eaton-Robb, P. (2019, February 24). Connecticut runners part of debate over transgender athletes. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/sports-gender-identity-connecticut-north-america-dcbca5cf940548628dba351f6c91bcd9

 ·         Some say she should not be allowed to compete with cisgender females, while others say she has the right to complete.

 ·         The NCAA has responded by revising its eligibility policies for transgender athletes- each sport will adopt the policies of the national governing body.

 ·         In 2022-2023, NCAA will require testosterone testing in championship windows.

 ·         Many states are considering legislation that will affect transgender athletes.

 
Barnes, Katie. (2022, January 23). Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas stays the course as NCAA changes eligibility rules. ESPNW. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/33125265/transgender-swimmer-lia-thomas-stays-course-ncaa-changes-eligibility-rules?platform=amp

from discrimination on the basis of sex, race,

color, creed, or national origin. 

Tex. Const. art. 1, § 3a (added 1972)

Idaho passed a law that prohibited transgender female athletes from participating in women’s sports. The plaintiffs in this case are challenging the constitutionality of the ban.

·         Motion to Intervene (Granted)

-          Defense of the new law- Plaintiffs opposed, Defendants in favor

 

·         Motion to Dismiss (Granted in part and Denied in part)

-          Defendants filed- citing Plaintiffs lack standing, claims are not ripe for review, and facial challenges fail as a matter of law

 

·         Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Granted)

-          Plaintiffs filed to contest the enforceability of the law

·         A trans male student-athlete may not compete on a women’s team if undergoing testosterone therapy

·         A trans female student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication may continue to compete on a men’s team

·         A trans female student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication may not compete on a women’s team unless the team is classified as mixed

·         Athletes who are not taking hormone therapy are allowed to participate in sex-separated sports activities in accordance with their sex assigned at birth

·         A trans male student-athlete may compete on either a men’s or women’s team if they are not undergoing hormone therapy

·         A trans female student-athlete who is not taking hormone treatments may not compete on a women’s team 

NCAA (2022). 2010 NCAA policy on transgender student-athlete participation. Retrieved from  https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/lgbtq/INC_TransgenderStudentAthleteParticipationPolicy.pdf

·        Encourage student-athletes to participate in sports

·        Respect students' values, beliefs, sexual orientation,      and gender identity

·        Evaluate individual situations on a case-by-case basis

·        Discuss situation with individual student and their parents/guardians

·        Review the laws specific to the state in which you are employed (many vary from state to state)

·        Review the rules of the athletic organization that oversees your state's high school sports

·        Remove personal bias and opinions regarding transgender youth when discussing policies and practices with educational stakeholders

·        Acknowledge the emotions of all students affected by transgender athlete participation in sports, and provide a private, safe place to share concerns