A girls’ track meet in California became a political rally on Saturday, fueled by controversy over a transgender athlete excelling in girls’ high-jump, long-jump, and triple-jump events this season.
The rally followed a letter sent Thursday by three prominent Christian high schools—JSerra Catholic High School, Orange Lutheran High School, and Crean Lutheran High School—to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), challenging its policy allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports.
“For young women, CIF’s Gender Identity Policy means lost opportunities and an unlevel playing field. The consequences of this Policy will be felt this weekend as CIF’s state semi-final competitions for track and field events take place. Star female athletes, some of whom attend our schools, will soon compete in multiple track and field events against a male athlete who self-identifies as a female,” the letter stated.
“CIF’s Gender Identity Policy also fosters an environment that is increasingly hostile to religious member schools. CIF’s expectation that all faith-based schools facilitate the CIF Gender Identity Policy puts religious schools in the untenable position of adhering to the tenets of their faith in their classrooms and communities but practicing something contrary to their faith on their athletic fields.”
The letter noted that some female athletes from these schools considered boycotting Saturday’s semifinal prelims due to the transgender athlete’s participation.
Before the meet at Yorba Linda High School, athletes, parents, and school officials held a press conference organized by Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the California Family Council.
All real female athletes should boycott any sport that is allowing transgenders.