Calgary schools require parents confirm child’s sex at birth under new girls’ sports rules
The debate around transgender athletes in school sports has reached a new level in Calgary this year. The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) are now requiring parents of female student athletes aged 12 to 18 to confirm their child’s sex as listed on their birth registration document before they can join a female-only team. This new rule is in compliance with Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which prohibits transgender athletes from competing in amateur female sports divisions.
Parents are being asked to fill out a form acknowledging their understanding of the eligibility requirements and confirming their child’s sex as listed on their birth registration as female. Failure to provide this confirmation would make a student ineligible to participate. The CBE and CCSD emphasize that their priority is to support students and families while implementing the government’s direction.
The rules have drawn strong reactions from parents on both sides of the debate. Some, like John Hilton-O’Brien of Parents for Choice in Education, support the policy as a way to restore trust in public education. Others, like Laura Leyshon of Stay in the Game Youth Sports, see the forms as discriminatory and a barrier to women’s participation in sports.
Wolly Barabash, a parent of a Grade 12 student in Calgary, agrees with the rules due to concerns about transgender athletes having a competitive advantage. On the other hand, Calgary mom Emily Hawryluk feels conflicted about signing the form for her 13-year-old, considering the message it sends to her trans family members and friends.
The provincial government maintains that the rules are about fairness and safety in sports. Vanessa Gomez, press secretary for Alberta’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport, stated that the government is working to make sport safe, fair, and accessible for all Albertans.
The debate around transgender athletes in school sports is a complex issue that continues to spark discussion and controversy. As parents navigate these new rules and requirements, it is important to consider the impact on all students and athletes involved.
