School Officials, Advocates React to Student-Athlete Transgender Policy

DULUTH, Minn. - Northland school officials are clearing up rumors about a new set of guidelines for transgender student-athletes in Minnesota."A boy is not going to be showering next to a girl,” said an organizer with the University of Minnesota Duluth’s QASU group, Manilan Houle. “That's not the policy. This policy has nothing to do with that." Transgender students are breathing a sigh of relief after the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) voted on a new policy allowing them to play on teams with the gender they identify with. Minnesota is the 33rd state to adopt this policy. Some are calling the vote historic, while school leaders say they won't see any major changes happening to their student-athletes anytime soon."They have just as much right to play a sport as anyone else," said Proctor activities director, Rory Johnson. The new policy is more of an appeal process and states, "The gender identity is different from the student's gender identity assigned at birth and that the student wishes to participate in athletics in a manner consistent with the student's gender identity.""Is it going to be something new? Of course it's going to be new,” said Johnson. "Are we hopefully going to do the right things? I'm hoping we do." Every transgender student wanting to play with their gendered team must have proper documentation from their parents and doctors that they identify differently. Then they’ll be appointed an independent hearing officer to review the information. The state high school league will make a decision based on the hearing officer's recommendation."They always have been and always will be part of our community,” said Houle, referring to those who identify as transgender. “By being more inclusive in the community, we have more inclusive athletics. We have better athletics. We have better teams. We have better sportsmanship." Johnson doesn't see the new policy any different than a girl trying out for the football team."Would your daughter be taking a shower with a boy? That stuff's not true,” said Johnson. “That wouldn't happen. At Proctor, it wouldn't happen.""We're talking about a very very small percentage of students that this policy is truly effecting," explained Houle. While the number of transgender high school athletes may be small, knowing they have the support to be themselves is positive. The new policy isn't expected to be something many students sign up for at once. The goal is to set the stage for the future so when a situation does come up it's clear how to handle it. Religiously affiliated non-public schools are exempt. The policy will be in effect for the 2015 school year.To read the full transgender policy, click here.