Only the board’s lone student advisor voted against the ban.


The Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Thursday approved a resolution that would prevent trans girls from participating in nearly all scholastic sports for girls in the state, according to Alaska Public Media.

The resolution, officially known as Resolution 02-2023, states its purpose is to preserve the “integrity of middle and high school girls’ sports” while ensuring “competitive fairness, inclusion, and safety” for all student-athletes.

“I’m not convinced that there isn’t a potential safety issue, or I am convinced there is a physiological difference for sure,” board member Jeff Erickson said at Thursday’s hearing. “I think there’s some unfairness. I think the federal law at present protects women’s sports.”

However, local advocacy groups and the board’s student advisor objected to its passage, calling it an attack on the rights of trans students.

“The decision to approve this proposal is a direct attack on Alaskan students who simply want to play sports, like any other kid,” Michael Garvey, advocacy director for the ACLU of Alaska, said in a statement. “The Board has totally disregarded the ways this policy violates the privacy of young Alaskans, and sanctions wholesale discrimination against transgender children.”

The resolution would apply to schools competing within the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA). The only sports not regulated by the ASAA are downhill skiing and the Native Youth Olympics.

The vote in support of the resolution was 7-0. Student representative Felix Myers cast a symbolic vote in opposition.

“It doesn’t seem like this is a problem that we need to fix currently,” Myers said.

Military advisor Lt. Col. James Fowley abstained from the vote.

The resolution was adopted in March and the board was accepting public comment through June. In July, the board postponed a vote on the resolution. The resolution now goes to Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor to determine if it goes into effect.


  • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    There are 130k students in K-12 in Alaska.

    Let’s say half that for just the older half of kids who would be in Middle and High school, so 65k.

    1.4% of 13-17 year olds are trans, let’s use that number for everyone. That’s 910 kids.

    But the school board has no problem with transmascs so the estimated statewide impact is 455 girls.

    But only 54.1% of kids do sports

    …so only 246 trans girls in Alaska were doing any sports anyway.

    Thank goodness this was the top priority for a state that ranks 48th/50 in crime, 49th in education, 45th in infrastructure.

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Yes, but what are they doing about the dangers of moose dressing as little girls to compete in sports, hmmm? Moose have a significant competitive advantage, and their antlers require special softball helmets. Moose-led teams have won every district volleyball tournament in the last 13 years. Of course it doesn’t make the news, because you know who runs the media? Big Moose.

    • Godnroc@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Did you not have a physical as a kid? Mine already had a “make sure your balls move when you cough” section.

      That said, sports need to get over this whole gendered thing. Go the way of speed running and just make more categories. I’d watch a trans woman’s competitive spring Jenga championship.

      • Eggyhead@artemis.camp
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        1 year ago

        That said, sports need to get over this whole gendered thing. Go the way of speed running and just make more categories. I’d watch a trans woman’s competitive spring Jenga championship.

        This is where I’m at. More categories of sports just means we get more sports to enjoy.

      • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Did you not have a physical as a kid?

        No.

        Well except during penis measuring day where the coach compared your penis growth and his to ensure you’re growing into a healthy lad.

  • AItoothbrush@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    The whole idea doesnt make sense. Trans people are a minority. Really fucking tall people are also a minority. Do you know who wins basketball games? Really fucking tall people. I think we should ban them from sports.

  • gascown@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    Fair, men have the advantage over women in sports. You can’t be all leftist feminists protecting women and advocating for trans women to compete in women’s sports. They can think whatever they want, but biologically, they are men.