The school’s board of directors sports in Alaska has decided not to adopt an amendment to its bylaws, which would have barred transgender girls from playing girls’ sports. However, it was reported that the Alaska School Activities Association said that its board may still approve the amendment in the future if the state Department of Education and Early Development rules require it to.
“The ASAA Board felt that until DEED modifies the current regulations and regulations, it is not the right time to alter the ASAA bylaws,” the association announced in a press announcement.
The association issued its statement on Tuesday following the two-day board meeting in Valdez. On Monday members of the public were questioned on the proposed changes to the bylaw with the majority oppositiong the change, claiming that they were against the trans.
The change in bylaws was inspired by a vote of members of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development that has instructed the state department of education to establish new rules. These rules would establish two sports divisions one for children who were classified as female at birth, and another for any student.
The statement also stated that, while the state does not directly oversee an association’s activities, they do create guidelines on which associations schools are allowed to join.
“Going further, DEED could adopt regulations which would prohibit schools in public of joining” or owing fees to a non-profit organization such as ASAA unless the association satisfies additional requirements in the statement.
“Without the involvement and support by public education institutions, ASAA would likely cease to be relevant or viable,” the statement said.
This article first appeared in Alaska Beacon and is republished here with permission.
