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South Dakota high school sports policy stays trans-inclusive
South Dakota’s governing body for high school sports has decided to largely maintain its trans-inclusive policy on student athletes.
On Thursday (27 August), the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) gave preliminary approval to some revision of its 2014 policy allowing trans student athletes to request playing for the team matching their gender identity.
Their decisions increase the likelihood of conservative legislators trying to push for a birth certificate requirement.
The SDHSAA’s policy revisions include establishing an independent hearing officer, instead of a hearing committee, to evaluate applications; such an officer must be a licensed attorney and member of the State Bar of South Dakota.
Under the revised policy, a student and parent need to notify the school of their wish to play on the team matching their gender identity; the school would then help them gather necessary documentation, to be submitted to the association for review.
‘I do hope that this helps (lawmakers) understand that we are listening to them and their concerns,’ Linda Whitney, a member of SDHSAA’s board of directors, told Associated Press.
Earlier this week, state lawmakers expressed their preference for a policy requiring athletes to play for the team matching the gender on their birth certificate; according to the Sun Herald, the drafted policy could go to the Legislature in the upcoming season.
As part of such a policy, Republican Roger Hunt also proposed visual exams of trans students’ genitals, in combination with checking their original birth certificate, before they can compete.
So far, no student athlete has made a request under the existing policy.
The post South Dakota high school sports policy stays trans-inclusive appeared first on Gay Star News.
Stefanie Gerdes
www.gaystarnews.com/article/south-dakota-high-school-sports-policy-stays-trans-inclusive/
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