SAINT PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) –More than a dozen southeast Minnesota public school board members are urging state leaders to adjust to a ban on transgender athletes in woman’s sports.
It’s a part of a grassroots effort below on the web site titleixmn.com, which incorporates the branding—“Protect Students. Protect Public School Funding.”
The correspondence is directed towards the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it had discovered the state was in violation of Title IX for permitting transgender athletes to compete in woman’s sports like snowboarding, la crosse, observe and discipline, volleyball and softball.
Federal officers offered 10 days for the state to voluntarily resolve its alleged Title IX violations or enforcement motion. That 10 day deadline is that this Friday, Oct. 10.
This week’s letter, penned by the group of school board members, which, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday included practically 140 names, said, “Protecting fairness in women’s sports is paramount. The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions. Female students in our districts and across Minnesota deserve equal chances to excel in sports, free from unfair physical advantages that biological differences confer. By entering into the resolution agreement, MDE and MSHSL can ensure equal treatment and foster an environment where female athletes can thrive.”
The letter indicated the school board members’ views are these of their very own and their constituents, and never their respective school districts.
“Swift compliance is essential to protect the federal funding that supports Minnesota’s schools,” the letter added. “Continued noncompliance risks the withholding of federal financial assistance, which would adversely affect educational programs, extracurricular activities, and resources for over 875,000 students statewide.”
School board members from the native space embody a minimum of one elected chief from these 10 districts:
- Caledonia
- Cannon Falls
- Chatfield
- Dover-Eyota
- Goodhue
- Lake City
- Owatonna
- Plainview-Elgin-Millville
- Red Wing
- Zumbrota Mazeppa
In addition to MDE and MSHSL, the correspondence has additionally been shared with the legal professional normal and governor, together with state lawmakers.
“I too am concerned about the Trump Administration’s threats to cut education funding for kids across Minnesota, but this matter is before the court right now,” Attorney General Keith Ellison wrote in a press release to KTTC. “The federal government’s threats violate the U.S. Constitution, Minnesota law, and Title IX itself. I’m fighting to prevent these harmful cuts, stop the Administration’s bullying of transgender kids who just want to live their lives in peace, and protect the rights and freedoms of all our students in Minnesota.”
Ellison has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government alleging government orders signed by President Donald Trump violate present state legal guidelines.
“Letting the very small number of transgender students in Minnesota play on their school sports teams doesn’t harm anyone, but segregating them does,” stated Ellison. “Exclusion is a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which has protected the rights of trans children to take part in all extracurricular actions for many years.
KTTC additionally reached out Tuesday to MDE and MSHSL, however haven’t obtained a response. The governor’s workplace has additionally not replied to our request for remark.
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