By Jennifer Martinez

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Elk Grove Unified School District’s school board made a decisive move yesterday, voting 7 to 1 against a proposal that would have potentially led to a ban on transgender students from participating in girls’ sports. ABC10 reported that the resolution, which was brought forward by board member Heidi Moore, purported to defend Title IX’s protections for girls in education and athletics.

Despite Moore’s assertion that her resolution mirrors others passed in 15 California school districts, the majority of the board felt it prudent to wait for legal clarifications on the matter before pressing forward. According to KCRA, there was concern about the issue still being contested in the courts, with potential unintended consequences for the district if a formal stance was taken prematurely. Meanwhile, over 20 people arose during the public comment period to express their opinions, the majority of whom supported the proposed ban.

Arguments spanned a wide spectrum, with supporters citing biological differences between boys and girls as the cornerstone for fairness in sports. Opponents, on the other hand, warned against the damaging impact such a ban could have on the mental and physical health of transgender and gender-diverse children. “Let us be clear. The proposed resolution is overt discrimination against transgender and gender diverse children. Denying any child access to athletics harms physical health, deteriorates mental health and strips away critical opportunities for teamwork, friendships and a sense of belonging,” one speaker told KCRA.

Following the board’s decision, there were several outbursts as emotions ran high on this contentious topic. Mindy Fu, who supported the resolution, said to ABC10 that it was “not about like excluding anyone. It’s about respect everyone,” highlighting the complexity and deeply personal stakes involved. Yet, board members like Delia Baulwin emphasized the inclusivity of their mission, stating, “A resolution that would target our trans students is not appropriate for our district and is not in line in the mission of what we stand for, that all students each reach their highest potential.”