Fifteen Connecticut-based women’s rights and gender equality groups have voiced their support for , two transgender track and field athletes named in a recent Title IX complaint. The support comes a week after conservative Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal discrimination complaint against the state’s policy on transgender athletes on behalf of a group of Connecticut high school athletes,
“As organizations that care deeply about ending discrimination against women and girls, we support laws and policies that protect transgender people from discrimination, including in participation in sports,” the organizations said in a statement. “Together, we reject unfounded fears about transgender athletes in our state and reject the suggestion that cisgender women and girls benefit from the exclusion of women and girls who happen to be transgender. Instead, we recognize that all women and girls are harmed when some are denied opportunities to participate in sports because of stereotypes and fear.”
The 15 organizations include the ACLU of Connecticut, Connecticut TransAdvocacy, CoalitionConnecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, GLSEN Connecticut, Hartford Psychological Services, Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut, Inc., LiveGirl, NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, New Haven Pride Center, outCT, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, PRIDE New Haven, Q Plus, Triangle Community Center and True Colors.
The complaint claimed that cisgender (someone who identifies with their birth sex) female athletes were prevented from top finishes and potentially from college scholarships. The complaint details the successes of transgender athletes Terry Miller of Bloomfield and Andraya Yearwood of Cromwell, both of whom are set to enter their senior years in the fall. Both athletes issued statements last week stating that they “no longer want to remain silent” on the matter and that they are simply competing under the rules of the state’s governing body of high school athletics.
The statement from the organizations pointed out that Connecticut’s policy has allowed transgender athletes to compete for years, they have been active members of their schools and communities, and that their successes should be celebrated just as much as much as other female athletes.
“We proudly celebrate Andraya, Terry, and other transgender Connecticut athletes,” the statement read. “We applaud the parents, teammates, coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, and others who have welcomed transgender athletes with encouragement and respect. And we fully support Connecticut laws and policies designed to protect equal access to athletics for all women and girls, including those who happen to be transgender.”
Glastonbury High track and field athlete Selina Soule, one of the three athletes who the complaint was filed on behalf of, was interviewed on Fox News’ ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight,’ where she stated that Miller and Yearwood prevented her from advancing to State Open finals for the 55 meter dash in in the 2018-19 indoor track and field season, which disallows her to clinch a spot at the New England Championship, where she feels she would have a better opportunity to compete in front of college coaches, though some have attempted to debunk this belief.
