New York State is joining in on the efforts already under way in other blue states to establish rules that could force girls to play competitive sports alongside boys. New York’s state Board of Regents has adopted a “gender neutral” rule for school sports that encourages mixed gender teams and allows transgender kids to play the team they choose regardless of biological gender.
The proposed amendment is 29 pages long and buried within it are some problematic changes that allow boys to play on teams with girls. While many practical things such as uniform choice and fitness tests are addressed, very controversial, even dangerous, proposals are also made.
Blatantly ignoring the safety of female athletes, the proposed rule provides that “requirements to participate on a team must be the same for all genders including a sport where there may be a heightened risk for a student athlete’s safety”. If this rule goes through as written, many parents are worried about serious injuries their daughters could incur from much stronger boys playing with or against them. Parents agree that all students should have the opportunity to participate in sports, but not at the expense of the safety and opportunity of female athletes.
The Department of Education states that it is committed to providing athletes of all genders equal opportunities to play and participate in athletic activities and “this includes promoting equality between separate male and female athletic programs and encouraging mixed gender teams”.
The amendment lays out parameters for male and female students to participate on the same interschool athletic team under circumstances when a school did not offer separate male and female teams. These parameters are sometimes referred to as “mixed competition.”
The rule specifically says that where a school does not provide sufficient opportunity for students of different genders to participate on separate teams, schools must permit a student of a different gender to participate in the team selection process regardless of biological sex.
Regent Roger Tilles was asked at the Regent’s meeting about boys playing on teams that have traditionally been girls’ sports such as field hockey. Regent Johnson-Dingle responded saying schools will be required to provide a level playing field for all sports. Tilles chimed in saying "I agree” with Regent Johnson-Dingle, “the idea that where there is no boys team, like in field hockey, that a boy would be able to go into the girls field hockey if there’s only one team,” Tilles said. “I think it’s positive.”
If you want to submit a comment on this proposed amendment email to regcomments@nysed.gov and put Gender Neutral Sports in the subject line. The comment period will run for 60 days beginning May 22nd. If adopted at the September meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on September 25, 2024.