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Wisconsin Caucus Opposes Girls-only Sports Decision
A handful of lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are doubling down on their opposition to a change in whether boys can play on girls high schools teams in Wisconsin.
The legislature’s new Transgender Parent and Nonbinary Advocacy Caucus on Thursday blasted the WIAA’s decision to keep girls sports in the state for girls only.
“It is a sad day in Wisconsin when the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional and inhumane crusade against the LGBTQIA+ community is weaponized against our trans and nonbinary youth,” the caucus members said in a joint statement.
The caucus is made-up of Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove,, Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, Rep. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton, and Rep Margaret Arney, D-Wauwatosa.
They all have supported trans and LGBTQ issues in the past, and have all opposed President Trump.
“The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) decision to ban certain transgender athletes from competing in high school athletics creates division, punishes young people who have done nothing wrong, and contributes to the atmosphere of chaos, fear and mistrust that Trump seeks to sow,” they added in their statement.
The WIAA on Wednesday voted to ban boys from playing in girls’ sports in the state.
“The WIAA Board of Control voted to update the organization's policy regarding student-athlete eligibility – affirming its compliance with federal directives that only students designated as females at birth will be allowed to participate in girls competitions,” the WIAA said in its statement.
”We expect Republicans in the State Legislature will also ramp up their hostile attacks in line with Trump’s hateful agenda. We stand with our trans and nonbinary young people. Their courage and perseverance inspire us to keep fighting for the rights, love, and support they deserve,” the lawmakers added.
The WIAA’s policy, however, does allow boys to practice with girls on their high school teams.
Neither the caucus or the WIAA said how many boys the new policy will affect.
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