The Minnesota State High School
League (MSHSL) has proposed a “transgender
student athlete policy.”
MSHSL has been working on the policy
since this summer; working directly with OutFront
Minnesota (the state’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization) to draft the
policy. The policy would force ALL
schools (public and private) and
ALL students participating in MSHSL sports (public, private, homeschool) to permit students who say they feel they are “transgender” to participate
on the team opposite their biological sex; thereby gaining access to the
showers, locker rooms, hotel rooms, etc. of the opposite sex.
When the truth of God’s design for
us as male and female is being distorted in such a visible way – a way that
directly harms all children – it stands to reason that God-fearing people show
the strength to stand-up against such distortion … united in one voice.
The public only became aware of the
policy shortly before the MSHSL Board’s meeting on October 2, 2014. After the issue became public, MSHSL said they
received over 10,000 e-mails expressing
concern over the proposed policy (in addition to calls and letters)! MSHSL also heard public testimony at a
special workshop on October 1st. The
testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to
MSHSL’s proposed “transgender policy.” As
a result of the overwhelming opposition, the MSHSL Board did not pass the “transgender
policy” at their Board meeting on October 2nd! Instead of passing their policy, the Board
cited the need for further work on the policy and the need for more input from
key stakeholders. A motion was passed
for a “task force” to be formed with MSHSL Board members and key stakeholders
representing both sides of this issue … specifically including a voice for
private religious schools. The task
force was to bring forth their recommendations for the best policy. To date, no such task force has been formed;
only MSHSL Board members have been involved in further policy development; private
religious schools still do not have a voice in this process; and only OutFront Minnesota has had a place at
the table in policy development.
The MSHSL Board is set to meet again
on December 4, 2014 (9:00 a.m. @ 2100 Freeway Blvd, Brooklyn Ctr, MN 55430), to
make a final decision on the policy. This
may be the last chance to stop this “transgender policy.” If you’re from the Twin Cities e-mail Troy
Urdahl [turdahl@stanthony.k12.mn.us] or Dan Johnson
[dan.johnson@hopkinsschools.org] today!
This must be understood:
·
The policy is not required under state
or federal law.
·
The
policy will affect both public and private schools … and homeschooled
students
who participate in public or private school athletics – No exemption
for religious schools or religious students.
·
The
policy allows transgender boys to play on girls’ sports teams and
transgender
girls to play on boys’ teams with no safety provisions for
physical
disparities.
·
The
policy will almost certainly lead to biological boys being able to access
girls’ locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, and hotel rooms (and vice versa).
·
The
policy contains no privacy protections for students.
·
The
policy leaves schools vulnerable to lawsuits for violations of students’
privacy rights and religious freedom rights.
·
The
process for developing this policy has lacked transparency, bringing
only one
viewpoint (LGBTQ) to the table, despite requests and offers for
participation
from other viewpoints.
When
it comes to children, we have a duty to protect and ensure that they are not put
in harms way. Jesus said it would be
better for us to drown than to cause one of His children to stumble and sin!
(Matthew 18:5-6)
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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