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Girl's swim records about to be smashed!
hardhat
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in Tug Tavern
Board members of the Greater Seattle Summer Swim League (GSSSL) are considering a bylaw change so that the league can allow biological male swimmers to compete in girls' divisions.
The league boasts almost 2,000 swimmers from across the Greater Seattle area.
A GSSSL task force made up of six men, one woman, and one transgender member has recommended the change to the league’s board of directors, which is expected to vote on the bylaw change this week and could implement the policy change for this summer’s season.
A parent provided documents and emails from the board member, which featured a link to a webinar held on the gender inclusion policy led by Brennon Ham, Health Education Specialist for Seattle Public Schools, who "oversees LGBTQ+ efforts," and according to parents "...is driving much of this policy."
Documents reveal the revised language of the amendment:
"Article V of the bylaws of By-Laws of the Greater Seattle Summer Swim League (approved 3/2022) shall be amended to add the following clause as a separately enumerated paragraph under that article: GSSSL supports athletes of all genders, including transgender and non-binary athletes. Member teams must operate in compliance with the league’s Gender-Inclusion Athlete Policy and will use the Gender-Inclusion Athlete Procedures as they determine how to best provide gender-inclusive programming for their team. Teams should distribute guidelines for their pools to all division member teams at the start of the season. The Gender-Inclusion policy will be outlined in the league’s operating plan. Any changes to the policy must be voted on by the league at the spring meeting and presented to teams at least six weeks prior to the meeting."
According to emails, the league was aware of the controversy this would cause and sought to explain it through a Q&A in the thread. "How can we vote to establish a policy so complex, without ensuring the contents of the policy is shared with all members; not just a team-rep?"
"In representative democracy, the role of the representative is to speak with their members and gain feedback before casting a vote."
"It would be near impossible for the GSSSL, the governing body, to reach out to the individual member of each club to gain feedback and share information. We do not collect contact information from every single member of every single club and do not have the infrastructure in place to do so. If this is something that the membership of the GSSSL would like to investigate, it can certainly be brought forward for the future. In that case, we may want to look to creating a paid administrative position to handle this level of communication."
According to the emails, the change was deemed necessary because "With no policy on gender inclusion in our bylaws/operating plan currently, our bylaws require us to default to the WIAA policy which does not have a requirement of medical intervention or competition limitations."
According to the current WIAA policy, "The WIAA encourages participation for all students regardless of their gender identity or expression. Further, most local, state and federal rules and regulations require schools to provide transgender and other gender-diverse student-athletes with equal opportunities to participate in athletics. The purpose of this policy is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender-diverse student-athletes. Additionally, this policy encourages a culture in which student?athletes can compete in a safe and supportive environment, free of discrimination."
"All students have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity. Currently, most athletic programs are offered separately for boys and girls... 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. Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with their 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. The WIAA staff is willing to collaborate with any member school seeking assistance regarding gender equity."
One parent, Lisa McAndrew Marquart, wrote a letter to the GSSSL board when they found out about the change and said that families in the league were "unaware of the proposed changes, afraid to speak about the potential bylaw changes," and were "Concerned about adopting bylaws for which they have not been able to ask questions of/review prior to casting of a club vote."
They asked for the board to slow "…the process to ensure transparency can assist in casting out fear and silence."
The parent added that, "Transparency can also foster healthy outcomes where equity, unity, and collective well-being is intended, valued, and needed."
A slideshow from the task force read that the goal they were hoping for with the bylaw change was: "We want everyone to participate!"
https://mynorthwest.com/3449734/controversy-erupts-for-seattle-youth-summer-swim-league-and-transgender-kids/
See you gals in the pool, and the showers!
The league boasts almost 2,000 swimmers from across the Greater Seattle area.
A GSSSL task force made up of six men, one woman, and one transgender member has recommended the change to the league’s board of directors, which is expected to vote on the bylaw change this week and could implement the policy change for this summer’s season.
A parent provided documents and emails from the board member, which featured a link to a webinar held on the gender inclusion policy led by Brennon Ham, Health Education Specialist for Seattle Public Schools, who "oversees LGBTQ+ efforts," and according to parents "...is driving much of this policy."
Documents reveal the revised language of the amendment:
"Article V of the bylaws of By-Laws of the Greater Seattle Summer Swim League (approved 3/2022) shall be amended to add the following clause as a separately enumerated paragraph under that article: GSSSL supports athletes of all genders, including transgender and non-binary athletes. Member teams must operate in compliance with the league’s Gender-Inclusion Athlete Policy and will use the Gender-Inclusion Athlete Procedures as they determine how to best provide gender-inclusive programming for their team. Teams should distribute guidelines for their pools to all division member teams at the start of the season. The Gender-Inclusion policy will be outlined in the league’s operating plan. Any changes to the policy must be voted on by the league at the spring meeting and presented to teams at least six weeks prior to the meeting."
According to emails, the league was aware of the controversy this would cause and sought to explain it through a Q&A in the thread. "How can we vote to establish a policy so complex, without ensuring the contents of the policy is shared with all members; not just a team-rep?"
"In representative democracy, the role of the representative is to speak with their members and gain feedback before casting a vote."
"It would be near impossible for the GSSSL, the governing body, to reach out to the individual member of each club to gain feedback and share information. We do not collect contact information from every single member of every single club and do not have the infrastructure in place to do so. If this is something that the membership of the GSSSL would like to investigate, it can certainly be brought forward for the future. In that case, we may want to look to creating a paid administrative position to handle this level of communication."
According to the emails, the change was deemed necessary because "With no policy on gender inclusion in our bylaws/operating plan currently, our bylaws require us to default to the WIAA policy which does not have a requirement of medical intervention or competition limitations."
According to the current WIAA policy, "The WIAA encourages participation for all students regardless of their gender identity or expression. Further, most local, state and federal rules and regulations require schools to provide transgender and other gender-diverse student-athletes with equal opportunities to participate in athletics. The purpose of this policy is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender-diverse student-athletes. Additionally, this policy encourages a culture in which student?athletes can compete in a safe and supportive environment, free of discrimination."
"All students have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity. Currently, most athletic programs are offered separately for boys and girls... 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. Once the student has been granted eligibility to participate in the sport consistent with their 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. The WIAA staff is willing to collaborate with any member school seeking assistance regarding gender equity."
One parent, Lisa McAndrew Marquart, wrote a letter to the GSSSL board when they found out about the change and said that families in the league were "unaware of the proposed changes, afraid to speak about the potential bylaw changes," and were "Concerned about adopting bylaws for which they have not been able to ask questions of/review prior to casting of a club vote."
They asked for the board to slow "…the process to ensure transparency can assist in casting out fear and silence."
The parent added that, "Transparency can also foster healthy outcomes where equity, unity, and collective well-being is intended, valued, and needed."
A slideshow from the task force read that the goal they were hoping for with the bylaw change was: "We want everyone to participate!"
https://mynorthwest.com/3449734/controversy-erupts-for-seattle-youth-summer-swim-league-and-transgender-kids/
See you gals in the pool, and the showers!
Comments
A committee of 6 men and one woman should be a problem in itself since the subject is girl's swimming
Toting little Sally to the pool before dawn every morning only to get thrashed by confused male at the neighborhood meet is not going to sit well over a nice pinot.
In March 2019, Udezue [Zuby] received media attention after posting a video on Twitter of himself performing a deadlift of 238 kg (525 lb), with a statement saying he had broken the British women's deadlift record while "identifying as a woman".[3] Udezue stated he published the video to criticize arguments that support allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports, which he believes are flawed. [4][5]
Doesn't prevent trans from enjoying athletics. Doesn't subject female birth league participants to dangerous and unfair competitive landscape