Politics, Sports and Identity: Ohio’s Obsession With Transgender Female Athletes.

Photo by Kyle on Unsplash

Why is the Ohio General Assembly obsessed with banning Trans female athletes from sports? Especially when there are as few as SIX Trans girls across the state who want to participate in school athletics. Policies currently exist to eliminate any possible advantages. So, making sweeping laws, like House Bill 6, provides zero benefit to most Ohioans, while punishing a handful of girls who want to connect with their peers as a teammate. In short, House Bill 6 is state sponsored bullying of students.
 
According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), there are approximately 400,000 athletes participating in 7-12 athletics across the state. Trans girls make up 0.000015%. Only 3 Trans students have been approved by OHSAA to compete in the 2023 spring sports season. That is 0.0000075% of student athletes this spring! The numbers make it clear that the proposed legislation puts a large target on a minority of trans girls in sports.

OHSAA policy already exists as a guideline for transgender student participation as listed below:
 
Transgender Females (MTF)

• A Transgender female who has not yet begun medically prescribed hormone treatment for purposes of gender transition may participate on a boys’ team at any time and no ruling is needed from the Executive Director’s Office.
• A Transgender female who is taking medically prescribed hormone treatment related to gender transition may participate on a boys’ team and no ruling is needed from the Executive Director’s Office.
• Before a Transgender female can participate in girl’s sport or on a girls’ team she must either:
  • (1) have completed a minimum of one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition and/or
  • (2) demonstrate to the Executive Director’s Office by way of sound medical evidence that she does not possess physical (bone structure, muscle mass, testosterone, hormonal, etc.) or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.

 
Transgender Males (FTM)

• A Transgender male who has not yet begun medically prescribed testosterone treatment for purposes of gender transition may participate on a girls’ team at any time and no ruling is needed from the Executive Director’s Office.
• A Transgender male who has begun medically prescribed testosterone treatment for purposes of gender transition may NOT participate on a girls’ team.
• A Transgender male who has not yet begun medically prescribed testosterone treatment for purposes of gender transition may participate on a boys’ team at any time and no ruling is needed from the Executive Director’s Office.
• Before a Transgender male who has begun medically prescribed testosterone treatment for purposes of gender transition can participate in boy’s sport or on a boys’ team he must:
  • demonstrate to the Executive Director’s Office by way of sound medical evidence that the muscle mass developed as a result of this testosterone treatment does not exceed the muscle mass that is typical of an adolescent genetic boy. Should this occur, the student’s hormone levels must be monitored by a licensed physician every three to six months and approvals will only be rendered on a season-by-season basis.

 
In any case where a Transgender student athlete is taking hormone treatment related to gender transition and an approval is needed from the E.D. Office, that treatment must be monitored by a physician and the Executive Director’s Office may request reports on this treatment depending on the situation.

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Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

Photo by Angela Compagnone on Unsplash

With these guidelines in place, it should give peace-of-mind to parents of cisgender athletes. But still the political attack on Trans youth continues in the state of Ohio. In 2022, the bill’s primary sponsor, state Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) said “Across our country, female athletes are currently losing championships, scholarship opportunities, medals, education and training opportunities and more to discriminatory policies that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports.”
 
In response, an OHSAA spokesperson told Ohio Capital Journal that “The OHSAA is aware of the reintroduction of a bill addressing the participation of transgender athletes in our member schools’ sports programs. We will continue to educate people on the OHSAA’s Transgender policy, which has been successfully implemented for the last eight years and has not resulted in any loss of female participation, championships, or scholarship opportunities in Ohio.”
 
Powell’s lies and fear mongering are echoes that can be heard throughout the country. There is a nationwide effort to discriminate against Trans students. These echoes have reverberated through the dark corners of our very own district in the form of unfounded bathroom policy attempts by FHSD Board Member Katie Stewart. The recent deposition of Sara Jonas proves that outside influences are seeking moldable authority figures to push their controversial agendas. We have to push back.
 
What can you do?

• Contact state Rep. Jena Powell and urge her to no longer sponsor the bill and to quit spreading misinformation about Trans youth. You can use her contact page or give her a call at 614-466-8114.
• Contact YOUR state Rep. Rachel Baker and urge her to try to convince her colleagues not to vote for House Bill 6 as it will harm Trans youth throughout the state. You can use her contact page or give her a call at 614-644-6886.
• Contact Governor DeWine and urge him NOT to sign the bill if it is passed. Give him a call at his Columbus office at 614-644-4357
• Contact your FHSD School Board members and tell them to take no more discriminatory actions towards Trans students. Contact bobbibb@foresthills.edu, lindahausfeld@foresthills.edu, sarajonas@foresthills.edu, leslierasmussen@foresthills.edu, katiestewart@foresthills.edu.
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