The mother of a California track and field athlete who lost to a biological male during a Saturday meet described watching the female athletes compete against the male athlete as “heartbreaking” during an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Athena Ryan, a biological male from Sonoma Academy, placed second in the 1600-meter race during the CIF-North Coast Section Meet of Champions on Saturday, knocking the fourth-place finisher out of a slot for the state championships.
The mother of one of the runners, who requested to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, described the situation as unfair and explained that parents and students are afraid to speak out on the chance opposition is construed as “bullying,” she told the DCNF.
“It’s heartbreaking to see what happens to these kids and how scared they are to even show the slightest bit of body language that might indicate that they aren’t happy with it,” the parent said. “They’re, like, forced to celebrate it.”
The mother shared her daughter’s school district’s 2021-2022 Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, which is required to be signed by both the athlete and the parents, with the DCNF.
The document prohibits athletes and parents from engaging in “hate speech,” which includes bias against a person’s gender identity.
Ryan raced against the daughter during the 2022 CIF-North Coast Section Meet of Champions, despite having previously competed in cross country in the men’s division, the mother told the DCNF.
When she raised concerns to the school athletic director, she was told that officials were “powerless” to do anything because of a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policy that permits athletes to compete as their self-identified gender identity which is derived from California law.
“California law permits students to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records,” Rebecca Brutlag, CIF media relations officer, told the DCNF.
“Additionally, in accordance with California law, CIF Bylaw 300. D. provides that students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.”
Read the full story here.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
