Girls' Cross-Country Team Forfeits Race After Transgender Athlete Joins Girls' Roster

Approximately a dozen high school girls participating in a Washington cross-country meet on October 13 walked off the course in protest. The demonstration occurred after a male athlete was permitted to switch from the boys' team to the girls' varsity roster mid-season.

The athlete had competed in a boys' junior varsity race on September 5, finishing 76th. Ten days later, the runner was competing in the girls' division. Parents Kevin and Sarah Burns appeared on "The Ingraham Angle" to explain their daughter Holly's and her teammates' decision.

"We told her that they should do what they feel is best and that they feel is right," Kevin Burns said. "And they got the support from their teammates, and they decided to make a difference." He noted that several team captains had already quit prior to the meet.

Officials from the Camas School District stated that state rules mandate allowing athletes to compete in divisions aligned with their gender identity. This response, according to Holly's father, effectively closed the discussion.

"The school sent us out a letter stating that, based on Washington law, it prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression," he stated. When asked if this meant families were out of luck, he replied, "I guess it's okay to discriminate against actual gender."

Sarah Burns commented on the emotional burden placed on the young athletes, saying, "They're children, they're, you know, they're 16 to 17-year-old girls that shouldn't have to deal with this at all, shouldn't even be on their radar. You know, they should just be able to go out there and race and have fun and not deal with this adult issue."

During the meet, parents attempting to display signs in support of the runners were initially told by security that signs were not permitted. Kevin Burns described the interaction, stating, "We had to leave. My wife Sarah was being very brave and did not care. And I don't think they had a legal reason to actually push us out." They ultimately remained and displayed their signs, which he believes provided a morale boost to the girls and encouraged other parents.

Kevin Burns urged political leaders to address the issue, asserting that protecting female athletics is a widely supported cause across the political spectrum. "This is a big issue that most Americans on both sides of the political aisle agree with," he said. "We have friends on both sides of the aisle that agree with the girls' rights to not have to compete against boys."

The situation has highlighted ongoing debates about gender identity in sports and the policies governing student-athlete participation.