Letter: Being inclusive of the marginalized athletes is more important than winning
(Rick Bowmer | AP) A proposed ban on transgender athletes playing female school sports in Utah would affect transgender girls like this 12-year-old swimmer seen at a pool in Utah on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. She and her family spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to avoid outing her publicly. She cried when she heard about the proposal that would ban transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams in public high schools, which would separate her from her friends. She’s far from the tallest girl on her team, and has worked hard to improve her times but is not a dominant swimmer in her age group, her coach said. “Other than body parts I’ve been a girl my whole life,” she said.
By Helen Reynolds | The Public Forum
| March 5, 2021, 1:00 p.m.
My 5-year-old girl daughter will be directly impacted by a policy for transgender girls in sport. I want her to grow up with all the physical and social benefits of playing sports, and want every girl to have the same experience. I am fully in support of transgender girls in sport. I would rather my daughter be inclusive of transgender girls than win in a single competition. Further marginalizing an already marginalized group, is not a value I want my daughter, or son, to grow up learning.
Helen Reynolds, Salt Lake City
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