{"id":117564,"date":"2022-11-20T12:18:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-20T17:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=117564"},"modified":"2022-11-21T12:37:31","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T17:37:31","slug":"average-hs-male-runner-becomes-top-ranked-female-after-gender-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/average-hs-male-runner-becomes-top-ranked-female-after-gender-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Average HS male runner becomes top-ranked female after gender transition"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATED<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

‘Deprives other girls’ teams of the chance to compete at State’<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A Washington State high school student who, as a male, ranked 72nd in boys’ track, vaulted up to the number-one spot as a female following gender transition.<\/p>\n

Libs of Tik Tok reports<\/a> that Seattle Academy’s Aspen Hoffman made this incredible improvement between her freshman and sophomore years.<\/p>\n

During the former, Hoffman finished 72nd in the cross-country finals; in the latter, the athlete finished first and broke Seattle Academy’s girls’ 5,000 meter record.<\/p>\n

Hoffman’s first-place time in the girls’ finals would have gotten the transgender athlete 48th place in the boys’ division.<\/p>\n

Libs of Tik Tok spoke to some coaches and several parents who aren’t very happy with the situation.<\/p>\n

“[A]llowing [Hoffman] to compete against biological girls deprives other girls’ teams of the chance to compete at State (which is a big deal),” a coach in the Emerald Sound Conference said.<\/p>\n

Another coach said \u201cThis is just about fairness in female sports. It would be just as insane if we made a girl who’s transitioning to be a boy compete against the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

The father of a female competitor said \u201c[Hoffman] is larger than any of the girls, and shamelessly takes 1st place on the podium. Now my daughter is competing against a male for scholarships. And we can\u2019t even say anything. You can\u2019t even approach it in a nice way without being labeled a hateful bigot. You will get threats against you.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Transgender professor: Excluding men from women\u2019s sports is like excluding black women<\/a><\/p>\n

Another parent asked \u201cWhat about [Hoffman\u2019s] teammate that was bumped off the varsity? These girls are losing their opportunity to not just get to state but maybe earn a scholarship.”<\/p>\n

Washington State’s guidelines for transgender athletes have evolved considerably over the last 15 years. Initially they required athletes to undergo surgery and two years of hormone therapy; eleven years later, the surgery mandate was lifted and only “documented testosterone suppression therapy” was required.<\/p>\n

But last year, “disregard[ing] all scientific reasoning,” the only thing the state required of a transgender athlete is that they “consistently express” a gender.<\/p>\n

Even more troubling to students and parents, WIAA eliminated aggrieved students and competing schools\u2019 right to even question the participation of a trans student in female sports.<\/p>\n

The rationale behind the changes was outlined in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association\u2019s 2021 Gender Diversity Toolkit<\/a> where they inaccurately argue trans athletes on teams have \u201cnot been shown to diminish opportunities for others\u201d and that there are \u201cno competitive advantages.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

US Women’s Soccer star Megan Rapinoe took a different tack<\/a> earlier this year saying “We\u2019re talking about people\u2019s lives. I\u2019m sorry, your kid\u2019s high school volleyball team just isn\u2019t that important. It\u2019s not more important than any one kid\u2019s life.”<\/p>\n

Rapinoe is referring to the higher suicide rate among transgender individuals. In other words, as the University of Idaho student paper put it<\/a>, \u201cwhether or not a team wins or loses, human lives are more important than the biological sex of team members.\u201d<\/p>\n

Editor’s note:<\/strong> The article has been amended.<\/em><\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Prof: Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas a \u2018trailblazer\u2019 like Jackie Robinson<\/a><\/p>\n

IMAGE: CeCe \/ Twitter screencap<\/p>\n

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