Leading off today: High school athletes are expected to be among those participating in a statewide demonstration on Oct. 24 to oppose transgender athletes competing in girls sports,
The New York Post reported.
The demonstration, which reportedly will include a school walkout, is tied to the upcoming election. New York voters will be casting ballots on Proposition 1, which would add language to the state constitution stating that people cannot be denied rights based on "race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy."
The proposition has drawn impassioned reactions pro and con, and the The Coalition to Protect Kids, a group drawing support from the Catholic Church and the New York Republican and Conservative parties, is near the forefront of those opposing it.
"Girls are being systematically canceled in this state, and 'Walk Off for Fairness Day' will give them a safe opportunity to make their voices heard," said Coalition to Protect Kids-NY spokeswoman Ayesha Kreutz. "So many of these young women are afraid of speaking out, so they're forced to watch as 50 years of female athletic progress (from Title IX) gets washed away by destructive ideologues."
Said state Conservative Party chairman Gerry Kassar, "It’s hard to believe we're even having the conversation that girls sports would be for anyone other than girls."
In April, the State Education Department proposed allowing transgender boys to compete on girls sports teams. It also would allow boys, regardless of their gender identity, to play on girls teams if the school does not offer a boys team in the sport. The Board of Regents abruptly tabled a vote on the measure last month and may be awaiting the results of the vote on Proposition 1 next month before determining how to proceed.
About 3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, with another 2% questioning their gender identity, according to a newly released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While that seemingly would not translate into a large number of transgender students seeking to play, participation by physically larger and stronger competitors in sports such as field hockey and volleyball have raised concerns nationally about the safety of female athletes.
Going the extra mile to be good guests
In light of the latest destruction courtesy of Hurricane Milton's path through Florida, Hurricane Helene is already an afterthought for some. However,
a nice story surfaced recently from Bloomfield, Ind., about the latter.
Helene tore through the South, but its residual effects tricked well beyond in the form of rain that soaked playing fields late last week, including at Eastern Greene High in Indiana, where the Thunderbirds hosted Paoli High in a football game that became quite the muddy mess.
Paoli won, 38-12, but the team's work was not done once the final whistle blew. The victorious players and coaches took it upon themselves clean the visitors locker rooms adjacent to the gymnasium.
It prompted Eastern Greene AD Aaron Buskirk to file an Exemplary Behavior Report with the Indiana High School Athletic Association, lauding Paoli for the gracious gesture despite facing an hour-long trip home after the game.
"I appreciate their willingness to do this without being asked to do so and to help our custodial crew out after a very muddy night!" he wrote. "Thank you, coaches and student-athletes, for leading by being servant leaders!!!"
This likely happens more than we know
The Richmond, Ind., High girls volleyball coach complained about gym usage and got himself suspended for his trouble. Darrell Morken is on paid administrative leave pending results of an ongoing investigation,
The Palladium-Item reported.
Morken and his players are feeling like second-class citizens over being denied access to the main gym by the boys' basketball team, which doesn't start its season until next month.
Volleyball player Katie Mathena's Facebook post last month alleged that the school's athletic director turned off the lights in the main gym after the team was told that the basketball squad's workout was a higher priority.
A teammate backed up Mathena's story and added that the same thing has happened multiple times since.
While Richmond High also has an auxillary gym, there are no volleyball court lines marked on the floor, which is why this is a bigger deal than it needed to be.
