Letter to the editor: School districts should preserve sex-based athletics distinctions

Chris Harlan’s article “‘No one has a better answer:’ PIAA relying on principals to identify transgender athletes” (July 29, TribLIVE) discusses PIAA’s deference to individual schools to determine whether biological males can play on a female team. I strongly disagree with the PIAA’s conclusion that there are no better answers.

Sex-based athletic teams are safer for girls, promote increased female participation and protect fairness. The science supports no other conclusion. When males are allowed to compete against females, girls lose in more ways than one.

The biological makeup of males allows them to become bigger, stronger and faster than their female counterparts. Female sports were created so that females can have the same athletic opportunities as males, without having to compete on an unfair playing field.

While PIAA may have kicked the can down to individual school districts, schools in York and Lancaster counties have stepped up with the best answers and enacted commonsense sex-based athletics policies. School districts in the Western Pennsylvania region should follow Hempfield School District and Red Lion Area School District’s lead by adopting a policy preserving sex-based distinctions in athletics as well.

Cheryl Lynn Allen

Hampton

The writer is a retired Superior Court judge and is counsel to the Pennsylvania Family Institute.