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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
APS Transgender Policy
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Anonymous
| Ok, PP - how would you draft the policy so it’s fair and safe for cis kids and trans kids? Do you have an idea besides “trans kids are SOL?” |
Anonymous
Not sure what PO you’re addressing but no one on this thread has said “trans kids are SOL.” No one. |
Anonymous
Look immediately below your post. |
Anonymous
They already have allowances for locker rooms. Just don’t introduce any changes to the existing sports policies, or require female gender assigned at birth for girls’ teams. It’s a fairness issue for xx girls as well. Changing the policy to allow transgendered girls to participate on girls’ teams would be unfair to a much larger number of kids than not changing the policy would. |
Anonymous
First of all, this is a delicate topic and I think that is something we should all be able to agree on no matter our opinions. Here are a few thoughts about the questions that have been posed: 1: I’m not worried in the slightest that a transgender student would be a danger to my own children. I do know my children though and I know that one is much more uncomfortable with the idea than the other two are. I also know their personality and know that if in that situation, they would make sure the other person was comfortable even if it made them a bit uncomfortable. I admire that about my child and it’s not something that I hope will change because it provides many opportunities to learn about others. At the same time, I worry that if he came home and told me he wasn’t comfortable with something, that the school wouldn’t have to listen to my concerns. I can see how this is an opportunity to teach him how to handle difficult situations with tact and I appreciate having that chance but I would hope that his voice could be heard through mine if necessary. 2:I personally don’t see any issue with this as long as everyone in the conversation feels okay about it. 3: I think what it all comes down to is making sure that students feel safe no matter what gender they identify as, what race they are, etc. I’m just not totally sure how helpful it is to bring up an idea that a kindergartener may not have thought of yet. There are obviously different issues at play and I don’t know the right answers to any of them right now so I really do want to engage in some good dialogue to find a way to move APS towards being a safe place for everyone (even people who don’t agree) When it comes down to it, I would prefer to have the conversation organically rather than feeling like I need to bring it up over dinner so they are aware. I also know that not all children have parents who are willingly open to discussing difficult topics. I was opted out of sex Ed as a kid and found myself in middle school with friends joking around about bananas and kiwis and laughing along because it was clearly funny to them but I had only half an idea what was going on. Those types of experiences influenced me in a way that made me want to talk to my kids about things and make sure they understand so they can decide for themselves if they think the joke is funny or if the word is appropriate. |
Anonymous
I’d say XY individuals must compete against each other. No XY individuals in competitions for XX individuals. I know it wouldn’t be the best because every XY girl is going to feel outed when competing against XY boys. But it is the XY girl born with a massive physical advantage over XX girls. She also can still compete against individuals with those same advantages. If we let XY girls compete against XX girls, then there’s no forum for XX bodies to be praised and celebrated for what they naturally can achieve. XX girls are physically weaker than basically half the population. XX girls live with that disadvantage and the fears and feelings of inadequacy it can entail. XX girls have hip shapes and shoulder shapes that are less attuned for speed and strength and instead allow for childbearing. XX bodies are smaller, they have smaller hearts and lung capacities, they have different twitch muscle fibers, and less bone density. These are real differences when it comes to sports and taking sex hormones won’t “fix” these disadvantages. And no XX individual should feel like her body isn’t enough when it comes to women’s sports. Given the number of XY girls now winning championships and setting records in women’s sports, I don’t think it will be long before XX girls feel inadequate and set aside. What happens when very athletic XY girls set records no XX girls can hope to break? What happens when instead of a Serena Williams, there’s just an XY mens champion and XY women’s champion? XX girls need representative heroes too and in sports, to have that happen, you need separate spaces. |
Anonymous
But that forces trans kids who want to play sports to be singled out - you can’t just brush that aside. Can we have a science-based discussion about the role of testosterone? Does anyone have data on the actual age at which males gain any real benefit from their testosterone in sports? What about trans girls who are taking medication to suppress their testosterone production who haven’t gone through puberty? What’s wrong with letting them play in the team they identify with? |
Anonymous
That is not SOL, just bc you don’t like it. It’s a legitimate response (and the policy of the NCAA). |
Anonymous
I’m the pp and I realize my post was insensitive in not identifying “Elizabeth” as genetically xx and Theodora as an xy GIRL. Both are girls. |
Anonymous
It is truly unfortunate that they would feel singled out. I don’t think that there is an easy solution to that. |
Anonymous
| If xy girls play sports with xx girls, then there is no point to having girls' sports. There is a reason we have created girls' sports teams under Title IX. |
Anonymous
No it isn’t. https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf |
Heloise
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That’s actually not the full NCAA policy, and hasn’t been since 2011. |
Anonymous
How is that “disgusting”? I think it’s important for parents to ensure that their voices are heard. Otherwise it will be like Fairfax County, where changes like using the phrase “gender assigned at birth” were rammed through, despite 80% of the public comments being opposed to it. Hopefully Arlington parents will get more of a say. |
Anonymous
And in a strange turn of events, the anonymous DCUM forum is actually more thoughtful and less judgmental than AEM. Wow! |