DOE, Cape using dated transgender policy

To Whom It May Concern:

For six years, I have tried to change policy at Cape Henlopen School District to protect transgender students. Delaware Secretary of Education Dr. Mark Holodick has vowed to strengthen Title IX in an article about women's health. He took over the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association by way of a Senate task force. President Biden is one who strengthened Title IX. What most people do not understand is that it was not created to protect women. A noble idea, but not reality. It was designed to protect equality. DIAA Rule 1024 8.5 and the minimum standards were created in the early ’80s. I remember Cape soccer coach John Myers informing our team that women would now be included. As athletes and good sportsmen, we supported our teammates. That's what true athletes do. This was their constitutional right. Parental rights do not belong to the Department of Education. As someone who serves on the DIAA Rules Committee, I can tell you it’s not woke. The LGBTQIA community, American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, World Professional Association for Transgender Health or the American Pediatric Association are not recommending drugs and surgery to minors, it’s the DOE and Cape through adherence to outdated policy. 

The 14th Amendment provides that no state can deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of law. Title IX says no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.  

I am proud Rehoboth’s resident president is in my school district, but our district relies on the DIAA minimum standards for transgender athletes. Red Clay and Christiana school districts have already adopted inclusive policies, and not one problem. Their current rules allow an athlete assigned male to compete as female, and has for some time. Still the DIAA refuses to change its rules. DIAA's standards could be interpreted as granting authority to athletic directors, coaches and parents to encourage children to take testosterone. Authority they do not have. The regulations suggest that children should change their sex through surgery to be allowed to participate. You cannot reassign sex through surgery. 

There is an influx of transgender refugees coming to Sussex County. What they are finding is that they are excluded from athletic competition by coaches and ADs who use DIAA rules as scare tactics. Or worse, DIAA rules are used to encourage transgender athletes to take testosterone. Gender-affirming care is limited and not up to current World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards.  

Cape and the DIAA have an intolerance toward those who hold different beliefs than them. Cape Superintendent Bob Fulton believes there is an LGBTQ community in Rehoboth. The LGBTQ leadership in Rehoboth is not reflective of the community, local merchants or club owners. For six years, local LGBTQ leaders refused to support Cape Henlopen outreach while writing transgender policy. 

These kids belong on the basketball court, not Baltimore Avenue.