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From an early age, I was an avid participant in sports, engaging in everything from soccer to gymnastics to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A passion of mine turned painful when I started competing in track and field events in the 7th grade, the same year we had a transgender student, BPJ, join the girls’ team.
Being forced to compete against BPJ, who had been in 6th grade when they joined our team, stirred up feelings of unease for me. In my 8th-grade year, their inappropriate comments towards me and other girls on the team caused me distress. Although I might usually report such behavior without hesitation, the fear of being serialized as transphobic, and potentially causing tension within my team, kept me silent.
I endured the discomfort until I could no longer do so without talking to my parents about the sexual harassment. Disappointingly, when we reported the issue to my school administrators, the school did nothing to rectify the situation.
Adding insult to injury, I began losing to BPJ – a constant reminder of the innate physical differences between boys and girls, which cast unfair competition within sports designed solely for female athletes. The disappointment grew when I was cut from competitions due to BPJ’s participation.
I felt crushed. BPJ’s physical performance increased over the season, reflecting the expected changes of a male going through puberty. To learn that I was being replaced by BPJ in the throwing competitions felt immensely unfair.
The situation escalated when BPJ began rubbing in my athletic decline and belittling me, leading to a feeling of inferiority. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing debate about the rewriting of Title IX, a law that gave women equal opportunity in education and athletics. The proposed changes might lead to females being compelled to share facilities and sports teams with males identifying as females.
Opposers of this amendment, including myself, worry that this could lead to more incidents like my experience. The feeling of helplessness compelled me to take legal action against the proposed changes to Title IX with the support of the Alliance Defending Freedom.
It’s distressing to think that despite striving for gender equality, the direction we are heading in may threaten women’s rights, invading our safety and fair competition in sports. My fear extends beyond my own experience towards the potential impact on my younger sister and other girls nationwide. They should not have to experience the same discomfort and harassment I did. By speaking out, I hope to shed light on the potential consequences of these changes and create a safer, more equal place for women in sports.
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