Staff Reports
A teenage athlete, born male but identifying as female, expressed disappointment over the lack of sportsmanship shown by the female competitors in a recent race. Veronica Garcia, who participated in the girls' 400-meter dash at the Washington State Championship, secured first place with a time of 55.75, leading by a full second. The awards ceremony was marked by silence when Garcia received the first-place award, leaving Garcia feeling hurt by the lack of support from the other girls in the race. Garcia emphasized being a teenager and the importance of people remembering that.
You Can’t Make This Up: A Trans Male Athlete Complained About ‘Lack of Sportsmanship’ From Female Competitors https://t.co/6jJa8EHbNE
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) June 6, 2024
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has allowed students to compete in the gender division they "most consistently expressed" for the past 18 years. Washington is one of 16 states with policies supporting the full participation of transgender, nonbinary, and other gender-diverse students in school athletics. Unlike some states, Washington does not require transgender student athletes to undergo hormone replacement therapy or disclose their medical information to compete in high school sports.
However, concerns have been raised about the fairness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. Garcia's participation has sparked criticism, including from Beth Daranciang, a Republican running for a state House seat, who argued that sports should be based on physical competition rather than identity. Additionally, numerous complaints have been lodged about Garcia's involvement in girls' sports, with some parents of female athletes expressing frustration over the perceived lack of equal competition opportunities for their daughters. American Parents Coalition Executive Director Alleigh Marré called for a focus on protecting girls and criticized recent changes to Title IX by the Biden Administration for causing confusion in this area.
