During my time in school, I had a close friend who possessed exceptional athletic abilities (and still does). She was tall, slim, sported short hair, and could outperform the majority of boys in gym class and in almost any sport. She didn’t wear makeup and her wardrobe primarily consisted of gender-neutral athletic attire. We played on several teams together, and once the opposing team (and unfortunately, their parents) realized how superior her athletic skills were, the taunting would inevitably begin. “Is that a BOY playing out there?” “Are we certain this team is comprised entirely of girls?” These comments deeply wounded her, and her teammates could only watch helplessly as her self-esteem suffered blow after blow. I often think of her these days and feel grateful that she participated in sports before the current wave of transphobia that is prevalent in conservative states.
When the Republican party, having lost the battle against demonizing same-sex marriage, shifted its focus to the transgender community, anyone who has ever participated in organized sports (or has a child who does) knew exactly how this would play out. Parents and coaches from opposing teams would target young women who didn’t conform to society’s idea of what a “girl” should look like (it’s interesting how we never hear about trans boys disrupting youth sports). They would make one of the few safe spaces for gender non-conforming girls, team sports, rife with suspicion and accusations. And here we are.
Natalie Cline, a member of the Utah state school board, is facing calls for her resignation after falsely accusing a cisgender girl of being transgender on social media. In a Facebook post (as expected), which was supposedly an apology, Cline claimed that she made the comment after receiving a public advertisement for a basketball game from “multiple concerned parents.” These parents assumed that the teenager in question was transgender based on her appearance in the advertisement. This prompted Cline to share the advertisement with the caption “‘girls’ basketball.” However, the teenager in question was biologically a girl and identified as a girl. Her parents described her as a “tomboy.”
The harm caused by these fully-grown adults, who are fixated on the genitals and sexual development of children, is extensive. Firstly, they have created a witch hunt where any child who doesn’t conform to their narrow definition of what a “girl” should look like, whether due to genetics, personal style, or other factors, must constantly be on guard. They live in fear of being accused of being transgender and potentially being barred from participating in a game, just like little Lakeleigh’s mother attempted to do. I’m willing to bet that many of us knew a child who was bullied and tormented for not fitting into society’s binary gender norms, and given the chance, we would treat that child differently. Cline’s Facebook post spurred other adults to comment on the girl’s appearance, and thankfully, the teenager was not on social media to witness it.
Secondly, individuals like Cline are the reason why states like Utah have targeted trans kids. In 2023, Utah banned gender-affirming care for minors and is one of 11 states that mandates that the trans community use bathrooms according to the gender assigned at birth. Remember how terrifying bathrooms could be in middle and high school? Now imagine forcing a 15-year-old trans girl to use the boys’ bathroom, especially in a state where being transgender is viewed as something to be policed and resisted. What could possibly go wrong?
In her “apology,” Cline, who faced criticism in 2021 for referring to LGBTQ+ kids as “gender confused,” defends herself by stating that she “never claimed the student was a boy.” She blames her actions on the trans community, asserting, “We are all trying to preserve women’s sports and their private spaces. In doing so, we certainly recognize that there is a wide range of physical characteristics among females, and of course, we accept these differences and want all girls to feel welcome in school sports. Unfortunately, our genuine efforts to be accepting of differences have, at times, been exploited, resulting in a loss of trust and suspicion towards girls who are more muscular than most. This is a regrettable consequence of the trans movement being imposed upon us, which puts us in a difficult position. Nobody wants to question a child’s gender identity. We want to protect children, not harm them. We want to trust while also upholding the truth.”
Or perhaps, you are simply an adult who bullies children online to advance your misguided agenda? In 2020, Utah ranked last in the United States in terms of spending per pupil and undeniably struggles with book banning and racism in public schools. Perhaps Cline should direct her attention elsewhere instead of speculating about which children may or may not be transgender based on their appearance.
Of course, all these laws are presented under the guise of “protecting girls’ sports.” Girls’ sports have faced numerous obstacles since I was a child, including lack of funding, limited access to sports facilities (raise your hand if your girls’ team had to use the boys’ practice field), hand-me-down uniforms and equipment from boys, and so on. You know what has never hindered girls’ ability to participate in sports? The inclusion of trans girls.
According to a study conducted by UCLA, 300,000 American children aged 13-17 identify as transgender. That accounts for 1.4 percent of the child population in America. This means that out of every 100 teenagers, fewer than two identify as transgender. There are hardly enough transgender student athletes to compromise the integrity of girls’ sports. In March 2023, the Salt Lake Tribune discovered that out of the 75,000 kids participating in youth sports in Utah, only four identified as transgender. What a productive use of government time and resources.
However, perhaps the most detrimental aspect of the ban on trans kids in sports, supported by Cline and others like her, is that it perpetuates the idea that being transgender is abnormal and must be uncovered and exposed. It implies that being transgender is so peculiar and wrong that it justifies adults speculating about a child’s genitalia. And for what purpose? What are we even accomplishing here? What does labeling children as “different” and preventing them from participating in sports with their peers achieve? Sports, where many kids, both trans and cisgender, find acceptance, camaraderie, and community.
Let me be clear: there is no trophy, medal, or conference record that holds more value than a child’s life. Over 50 percent of transgender and non-binary children in the United States have contemplated suicide in the past year. So, what is our objective in marginalizing trans kids? Are we trying to push them closer to the edge? Denying them the transformative experience of participating in a sport they love while being true to their identity? For what purpose exactly? Because some opportunistic politicians have convinced a subset of parents that the world is conspiring against their daughters? It certainly is, but not for the reasons they believe.
Team sports, where many of us find our tribe and discover ourselves, should be an experience we want every child to have, regardless of their gender identity. Denying kids the opportunity to find their team, their community, based on a misguided notion of protecting girls’ sports is cruel and shortsighted. We protect girls’ sports by involving as many girls as possible, including trans girls. We protect girls’ sports by providing girls with a safe space to play, be themselves, and by refusing to allow adult bullies like Cline and her “concerned parents” to demonize children.
According to the Source deadspin.com