Minnesota mulls allowing trans students to choose sports teams based on gender identity

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) is in the process of drafting a controversial athletic policy that would allow transgender students to play on either boys' or girls' sports teams, depending on which gender they identify with and regardless of their biological sex.

The MSHSL, which decides policy for all extracurricular activities in public, private, religious, and home schools, says the policy would allow "participation for all students regardless of their gender identity or expression." The league continues:

While supporters say that the policy is about leveling the playing field to allow transgender students the same opportunities as cisgender students, the MSHSL has faced heavy opposition from conservative groups. The Child Protection League Action, for example, ran ads suggesting that the new policy could force invasions of privacy by allowing for co-ed locker room situations.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

According to the Federalist, Minnesotans sent more than 10,000 protest emails to MSHSL, forcing the organization to table the decision until December 4.