DSUSD school board passes resolution expressing concerns for fairness in girl’s sports involving transgender athletes
Kendall Flynn
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Sands Unified school board has passed a resolution calling for “fairness in girls’ interscholastic sports.”
The discussion of transgender athletes have been an ongoing across the nation, debating transgender girls’ participation in sports. Amid the controversy, the DSUSD board voted 4-0 to pass the resolution, despite highlighting the complex views on the subject from the district’s community.
The resolution upholds the district’s support for Title IX, describing it as an outstanding core value in women’s sports. Title IX, a federal law, prohibits sex-based discrimination in education and emphasizes equal opportunities for girls in sports.
District boards members discussed the need to protect fairness in girl’s sports and cited the impact of biological differences in athletics. With the resolution, the district says it will not change anything for athletes – it is an expression of opinion.
“The resolution adopted by the Board is a statement of opinion intended to express concerns related to fairness in girls’ athletics. It does not establish or alter any existing Desert Sands Unified School District policies or regulations.” – Desert Sands Unified School District
News Channel 3 reached out to other districts in the Valley about the decision and getting answers on if they have a stance on “fairness in girls’ sports.”
We received the following statement from PSUSD:
“We remain committed to upholding state directives and legal requirements regarding Title IX compliance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policy, which aligns with the California Education Code has remained in effect since 2013, and safeguards students from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The California Department of Education (CDE) has affirmed that state law ensures equal and inclusive access to athletic programs for all students. We fully support the positions of both the CDE and CIF and reaffirm our dedication to nondiscrimination and the protection of every student’s rights in school athletics.” – Dr. Antonia Hunt, PSUSD Director of Title IX, Compliance
Stay with News Channel 3 to hear what lead DSUSD to this decision and how officials who work with the transgender youth are reacting.