It’s so not over.
Last night in Camas, Washington, nearly half the girls’ cross country team walked off the course rather than race a boy on their own team.
13 of 24 Camas girls who started in the race walked the first ~50 meters then exited the course vs. Battle Ground High School. The boy racing in the girls’ division placed 2nd last night.
From the Boys’ Team to the Girls’ Podium
A month ago he was racing with the boys. (I wrote about it here.)
On September 5 he finished 76th of 301 in a JV boys race. Weeks later he switched to the girls’ team.
Here he is on September 26 in the Nike XC Portland Invitational in the girls 500M. He stole second place from a girl that day. (Thanks Nike, for saying nothing. Again.)
Since then he has been winning or placing near the top in almost every race: second among 195 girls in Portland, first in a varsity dual meet against Union, second again last night against Battle Ground.
From the middle of the pack with the boys to the top of the pack with the girls. Every time. And his times in girls would still place him in the middle to the bottom with the boys. At the Nike Portland XC Invitational on September 26th where he came in at about 19:16, this very same time would have placed him in the mid 130s in the boys division. But he was able to steal 2nd in the girls’ category.
These Girls Aren’t the First to Take a Stand
These Camas girls who walked off the course last night were not the firsts to do so. Weeks ago, Sierra Retzlaff and Charlie Garrett of Skyview walked off in protest, body paint reading “Keep women in women’s sports.”
Sierra’s father, Joel Retzlaff, was later banned from Camas school grounds for a year after holding signs about protecting girls’ sports. He received a criminal trespass notice and was barred from school grounds. For a sign standing up for his daughter.
The Debate Over Fairness in Girls’ Sports
Look at this boy. Logan Mihailoff, class of 2028. Sorry but no person in their right mind sees him and thinks that this is fair or right.
Is there any doubt he is a young man? No hormones. No medical “transition”. Just a decision that he would now compete “as a girl”.
To everyone who says “but hormones . . .” — what do you think is happening here? Self-ID was always real. This is what it looks like. It looks like boys declaring “female-ness” (or “girlhood” as Dylan Mulvaney would say) and ousting girls on the team, from the roster, from the podium.
Why These Girls Walked Off the Course
To anyone who says “what’s the big deal?” — look at these girls! They walked off, stood up for themselves, rather than be forced to race him.
These girls did it to make a point. That they won’t be forced to pretend. To lie.
The Cost of Speaking Up
It won’t be without sacrifice. If you think they won’t be harassed and bullied for this action, you would be sorely mistaken. Every young girl I know who has stood up — or stood down — in protest has faced threats, bullying and ostracization from their team, their own classmates and even adults in the community.
We’re making teenage girls carry this fight alone. And every time the world tells them, what’s wrong with you, suck it up, what’s the big deal, the world tells them they don’t matter. Only he matters. His feelings. Not theirs. Nor their rights and opportunities. Is that really how we are raising young girls today? To tell them they don’t matter? That they need to put boys’ feelings and opportunities before their own?
Because knowingly or not, that’s the message being sent.
Title IX and the Fight Over Fair Competition
To anyone who thinks this stopped because of an executive order — look at this with your own eyes. These girls had to do this, to stand up for themselves. Because Washington state ignores the Executive Order and Title IX.
And you know what else . . . the boy’s gait is clumsy. Anyone with an ounce of athleticism can see it. He is no athlete. And still, because of natural male advantage, he beats the girls.
I’d like to know what is wrong with the parents of this boy. If your son is struggling with identity issues, handle that in private. His psychological issues are not these girls’ problem. Girls’ sports are not a mental health facility for troubled young men. He is not their responsibility. He is the parents responsibility. Deal with it. Help him. Do not foist him on these girls. Are they proud that he is besting the girls in what is clearly unfair competition — besting them through sheer male advantage? Do they not see it? Do they really think he magically became a girl a few weeks ago? Do they have daughters?
No genital check. No test required. Anyone can see this is a male. Don’t let the Democrats fool you. The Democrats claiming fair sports for girls will lead to genital checks are lying. In 27 states with laws protecting girls’ sports, there are zero genital checks. Zero.
What can you do?
Washington voters: Vote Yes on Initiative 638 in November.
Colorado voters: Vote Yes on Proposition 134.
