As the issue of gender-confusion in children continues to rise, the North Austin Aquatics League has updated its handbook to allow children to choose which sex they want to compete with.
On Tuesday, the NAAL changed its rules from mandating that swimmers compete with the same sex to allow “biological” boys to compete with girls if they identify with the female sex.
“Swimmers shall compete in one of two competition categories (male or female). With regard to gender diverse athletes and in keeping with the NAAL Statement of Purpose, the NAAL will follow the USA Swimming Policy for gender diverse minor athletes that is in effect as of February 1 of the current year,” reads the updated handbook.
The NAAL changed the terms in accordance with the USA swimming policy for gender-diverse minor athletes.
The policy states, “A minor transgender athlete member of a swim club should be allowed to participate in accordance with his/her/their gender identity, irrespective of the sex listed on the athlete’s birth certificate or other records and regardless of whether the athlete has undergone any medical procedure.”
“This means an athlete who is biologically female but identifies as a boy/man should be allowed to participate in men’s events and an athlete who is biologically male but identifies as a girl/woman should be allowed to participate in women’s events,” it adds.
The USA Swimming Policy also recommends that a gender-confused athlete should be allowed to use the locker rooms, changing facilities, and restrooms that are consistent with their gender identity, as well as share a hotel room with the gender they identify.
Keliah Thompson, a mother whose daughter competes in the league told Texas Scorecard that the new policy will create an unfair advantage for her daughter and other girls and defeats the purpose of Title IX.
“For my daughter, who isn’t an elite swimmer, who just is doing this for fun and to have something to do—like exercise—for the summer, she barely stands a chance against other girls,” explained Thompson. “That [policy change] opens up the door for her to be on a starting block with a boy and because of his chromosomes and everything, he’s going to be able to beat all of them, even the best ones out there.”
“So it’s just an unfair competitive edge that will happen if we just let boys swim with girls,” said Thompson.
Michelle Evans, the Round Rock chapter lead for the Independent Women’s Network, told Texas Scorecard that the new policy could prove to be harmful to female competitors.
“NAAL has chosen to ignore fairness and safety for its female competitors to appease a tiny yet vocal minority of ideologues,” said Evans. “So-called gender diversity has no basis in fact or reality, yet has wide-ranging negative implications for the future of girls’ opportunities in sport.”
