A California parent whose daughter lost to a transgender female at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) track meet spoke out, “How do you not understand that that’s unfair?”
Transgender athlete, Athena Ryan placed second in the girls’ varsity 1,600-meter run finals on Saturday in the sectional Meet of Champions with a time of 4:55.91, advancing to the CIF State Track & Field Championships next week.
One of the parents of the competitors who placed behind Ryan is blasting the competition for allowing a biological male to compete against the girls, but the parent is doing so anonymously in fear of being bullied or reprimanded for breaking CIF regulations.
“We’ve been advised that anything that potentially can come off as bullying is a code of conduct violation. And so by CIF rules [the girls are] unable to speak out about this,” the parent said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“I’m absolutely opposed to it. There’s no way this should be allowed,” the parent said. “Ryan was in like fifth place with 100 to go, and all of a sudden he… blew past the girls.”
The parent also explained that the competing girls will remain silent on the subject because voicing their disappointment may be interpreted as “bullying” and can affect their ability to participate in the sport.
“The student athletes’ reactions are very tempered and controlled as much as they can because they’re not allowed to show any reaction whatsoever to potentially not affirm what is happening,” the parent said.
The bullying policy is extended to families, so parents are also unable to freely speak out on the matter.
The CIF said, “California law permits students to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records. (Education Code section 212.5.(f). Additionally, in accordance with California law, CIF Bylaw 300. D. provides that students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.”
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