Caitlynn Jenner calls for change to 'woke' rules in Washington Sate

2022-11-22

‘They can’t just identify and compete against women’: Caitlynn Jenner calls ‘woke’ rules to change after biological male ranked 72 on boys’ track team last year rocketed to the top of the girls’ table after transitioning

In 2021, the WIAA relaxed its policy on transgender athletes in Washington state
Policy allows athletes in categories ‘consistent with their gender identity’
Jenner called the policy ‘woke’ after a transgender runner competing in the Emerald Sound Conference girls’ category to rise to the top of the rankings
The athlete, a sophomore at the Seattle Academy competing as a girl, broke her school’s record in the girl’s 5,000-meter cross country

Olympic gold-medallist Caitlyn Jenner has called on a change to Washington State’s ‘woke’ rules that have allowed a transgender runner to climb to the top of the girls’ rankings after she transitioned.

The athlete, who was born male and has since transitioned to female, finished in 72nd place in last year’s league finals while competing as a boy.

Now, as a sophomore at the Seattle Academy competing as a girl, she broke her school’s 5,000-meter girl’s cross country category and ranks first in her league – and clocked a time that would have ranked 48th had she competed in the boy’s division.

‘We have to keep it fair,’ Jenner – a contributor to Fox News – told the network.

‘This issue is not going to go away, but I really feel the state of Washington has to make it a little bit tougher. [Transgender students] cannot just identify [as transgender] and then compete against the women.’

Jenner said she blamed Washington’s ‘woke’ policies for enabling the situation, which she says is unfair on other girls competing in the Emerald Sound Conference, in which Seattle Academy student athletes compete.

Olympic gold-medallist Caitlyn Jenner (pictured) has called on a change to Washington State’s ‘ woke ‘ rules that have allowed a transgender runner to climb to the top of the girls’ rankings after she transitioned.

In 2007, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) adopted the Olympic Committee’s position that transgender athletes can compete in the category of their reassigned gender – so long as they have undergone surgery and a minimum of two years of hormone treatments.

Eleven years later, the WIAA relaxed its position, saying that a male student that transitions to female ‘must have one calendar year of medically documented testosterone suppression therapy to be eligible to participate on a female team.’

The requirement for surgery was lifted.

Then, in 2021, the association eliminated all requirements of a medical evaluation and hormone therapy. Its position changed, allowing athletes to compete categories ‘consistent with their gender identity,’ according the association’s guidance.

‘Athletes will participate in programs consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed,’ the WIAA guidance says.

‘School personnel responsible for student eligibility will work collaboratively with the student-athlete to determine eligibility.’

This, Jenner told Fox News, means ‘you just identify as being trans and you can compete on the women’s team.’

She said ‘[the WIAA] made this rule because they thought it was more consistent with the Washington State’s nondiscrimination laws that they had out there.

‘I have been from the beginning… out for that, like that fourth place woman who is trying to make it to the state championships. But there’s a trans athlete in there in the top three that doesn’t allow her to be able to go do that, fulfill her dreams, maybe get a scholarship down the line. We have to keep it fair,’ Jenner said.

The Olympic Champion, who is herself transgender, called on the WIAA to change the rules, citing swimming as an example as a sport that has altered its stance on the issue.

According to the blog ‘Libs of TikTok’ that highlighted the story of the sophomore at the Seattle Academy, parents of other students competing in the Emerald Sound Conference are angry that the athlete has been allowed to compete in the category.

One father told the blog that the student is ‘larger than any of the girls’. He said his daughter was competing for a scholarship, but that he felt he couldn’t speak out ‘without being labeled a hateful bigot.’

The blog also quoted a coach, who said ‘allowing [the athlete] to compete against biological girls deprives other girls’ teams of the chance to compete at State. If [the sophomore] competed in the boys’ division, [they] would place 56th’.

Jenner has been vocal on the issue of transgender women who have not biologically transitioned competing in women’s swimming, most notably with the case of Lia Thomas, a trans woman who wants to compete in women’s swimming at the Olympics in 2024.

Thomas sparked an outcry over unfairness after she smashed multiple college swimming records, prompting a crackdown on transgender women competing in the sport.

Jenner has been vocal on the issue of transgender women who have not biologically transitioned competing in women’s sport, most notably with the case of Lia Thomas (pictured), a trans woman who wants to compete in women’s swimming at the Olympics in 2024

Earlier this year, swimming’s world governing body, FINA, banned trans athletes from competing in women’s elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty.

Athletes from competing in women’s elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty.

It added it would aim to establish an ‘open’ category, so swimmers whose gender identity is different to their birth sex, are able to compete.

Jenner believes that FINA had come to the conclusion it’s not just about current hormone levels, and she shared her experience of how going through male puberty had given her advantages.

Jenner believes that, despite identifying as a woman, it matters if a trans woman has undergone male puberty or is still biologically male, both in competitive sports and for how it can make women feel.

Critics of male-to-female transgender athletes say they have an unfair advantage over women after going through male puberty, even if they undergo subsequent hormone treatment during their transition.

They also warn of potential safety concerns that arise by having someone with male private parts in a female changing room.

Transgender rights advocates say students who are trans are vulnerable, and that they should be allowed to participate fully in school or college life as the gender with which they identify.

Jenner has come under criticism from some trans activists for her stance on the matter, but said she didn’t care about being labelled transphobic.

WIAA’s ‘philosophy of gender identity participation’

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has been put in the spotlight by Olympic gold-medallist Caitlyn Jenner, who has called out the association’s policy on transgender athletes competing in sporting activities.

After bringing its policy in-line with the Olympic Committee’s in 2007, the WIAA has since relaxed its policy on two occasions.

Most recently, in 2021, the association eliminated all requirements of a medical evaluation and hormone therapy, and allowed athletes to compete categories ‘consistent with their gender identity.’

The association’s guidance says:

All students should have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.

Athletes will participate in programs consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed. School personnel responsible for student eligibility will work collaboratively with the student-athlete to determine eligibility.

Should any questions arise whether a student’s request to participate in a sex-segregated activity consistent with his or her gender identity is bona fide, a student may seek review of his or her eligibility for participation by working through the procedure set forth below.

‘Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with his/her gender identity, the eligibility is granted for the duration of the student’s participation and does not need to be renewed every sports season or school year.

All discussion and documentation will be kept confidential, and the proceedings will be sealed unless the student and family make a specific request.

The guidance then outlines the process to follow should the participation of a student in an activity under the WIAA be challenged. In the event a challenge is made, notice is sent to both the student and their family, and the WIAA.

The guidance says there are then two levels of appeal before a Gender Identity Eligibility Committee, made up of at least three of the following:

A. Physician with experience in gender identity health care and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care.
B. Psychiatrist, psychologist or licensed mental health professional familiar with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care.
C. School administrator from a non-appealing school
D. WIAA staff member
E. Advocate familiar with Gender Identity and Expression issues

Eligibility documentation should also be provided.

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