The Star Tribune and the Associated Press are reporting that 18 0f the 20 board members of the Minnesota State High School League have voted to approved a new policy for transgender student athletes.
As Bluestem has been reporting, the possibility that the policy, required for compliance with federal Title IX anti-discrimination law, would be adopted had spawned a statewide email, newspaper ads and direct mail campaign by the Child Protection League, an anti-LGBT conservative organization.
In a special report to the Star Tribune, David La Vaque writes in Minnesota High School League overwhelmingly approves new transgender athlete policy:
The Minnesota State High School League board approved a new policy for transgender students Thursday morning that will begin with the 2015-16 school year.
Criteria for determining eligibility of transgender students for high school sports teams would be applied in an appeal process overseen by the high school league. Appeals would be heard by an independent hearing officer.
Religious schools will be exempt when the new policy goes into effect in time for the 2015-16 school year.
Eighteen of the 20 board members voice yes. Emmett Keenan, activities director at St. Cloud Cathedral, voted no. Governor-appointed board member Paul McDonald of Ely, participating in his first board meeting, abstained.
The overflow crowd at the high school league headquarters in Brooklyn Center likely surpassed the turnout of about 150 people who attended a transgender policy discussion at October’s board meeting.
The Associated Press's Kyle Potter reports in Minnesota approves transgender participation policy:
pponents again urged the board Thursday to delay or scrap those guidelines, citing concerns about giving transgender athletes an unfair advantage on girls' teams and worries over transgender students in locker rooms. Several Republican lawmakers asked the board to let the Legislature handle the issue.
Ed Kashmarek yelled out it was "a huge mistake." Kashmarek, who wouldn't say where he lives, doesn't have kids, but felt compelled to take a stand against policies regarding what he called "sexual disorders."
"Human beings do not have the right to choose their gender," Kashmaerk said after the meeting.
The MSHSL wrestled with the policy for months, going through nearly 10 drafts and hours of public comment.
Rep. Barb Yarusso, a Shoreview Democrat who has a transgender son, deflected the criticism that the MSHSL was moving too fast. She said the policy change would make transgender students feel welcome and more comfortable in their own skin. ...
Read both articles at the links.
Photos: Supporters and opponents stand behind board members (above, via the Star Tribune); A still small sign in the lower right disputes an opponent's claim of divine right (below, AP, via the Winona Daily News).
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