The parents of a transgender female track athlete are speaking out, calling it “cruel” to make their child compete against boys.
At a recent Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) hearing, Sarah Hansen argued that running against girls is essential for her child’s well-being. “My child is a female in her heart and soul, and according to her medical labs,” she said. She and her husband, Tom, explained that their child has been transitioning since age 15, going through medical evaluations, therapy, and treatments.
Tom also read a statement from their child’s doctor, who argued that trans girls don’t automatically have an unfair advantage and that gender isn’t just a simple binary.
This all comes after the PIAA updated its bylaws following former President Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The organization replaced the word “gender” with “sex” and left decisions about competition up to individual schools. The change sparked backlash from progressive groups like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, who say these kinds of restrictions reinforce outdated stereotypes about female athletes.
At the hearing, the Hansens’ child also shared a statement, saying that banning trans athletes from competing with their chosen gender takes away their opportunity for personal growth. A teammate backed that up, saying the Hansens’ child’s participation never felt unfair, while the school’s track coach praised the athlete for fostering team unity and inclusivity.
Meanwhile, this issue is already in the courts. A female runner recently sued the Colonial School District after losing to the Hansens’ child in a cross-country race last fall. She claims that being forced to compete against a biological male violated her 14th Amendment rights. The school district, where the Hansens’ child is enrolled, has vowed to fight the lawsuit.
This debate isn’t going away anytime soon, as discussions over transgender participation in sports continue across the country.
Debate Heats Up as Parents Defend Transgender Athlete’s Right to Compete”
