DIDN'T GET IT.
3
NEW TONIGHT --TWO HIGH SCHOOL
TRACK STARS WHO TOOK "FIRST
AND SECOND" PLACE AT THE
CONNECTICUT STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS FIND THEMSELVES
AT THE CENTER OF A CONTROVERSY.
BOTH YOUNG WOMEN ARE
TRANSGENDER AND COMPETED ON
THE GIRLS TEAM. THAT'S NOT
SITTING WELL SOME PARENTS AND
STUDENT ATHLETES.THEY'VE
STARTED A PETITION TO CHANGE A
RULE. NEWS 8'S AMY HUDAK IS
LIVE IN NEWS 8 CONTROL WITH
REACTION.AMY.
WS3
THE CONNECTICUT
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC
COMMITTEE -- CIAC -- SAYS
ATHLETES CAN TECOMPETE ON THE
TEAM THEY GENDER IDENTIFY
WITH. BUT SOME ARE SAYING THIS
IS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WHEN IT
COMES TO ATHELTICS.
EN
I HAD THESE PINK AND PURPLE
FURRY BOOTS THAT I WORE.
ANDRAYA YEARWOOD SAYS EVEN AS
A CHILD SHE IDENTIFIED AS A
GIRL. I GUESS SINCE I WAS
ALWAYS DIFFERENT I LEARNED TO
DEAL WITH IT AND GROW TOUGHER
SKIN OVER IT. YEARWOOD IS A
SOPHOMORE AT CROMWELL HIGH
SHOOL. BORN A BOY -- SOSHE'S NOW
TRANSITIONING AND BRUNS TRACK
AND FIELD ON THE GIRLS TEAM.
SHE AND BULKELEY HIGH
SOPHOMORE TERRY MILLER SWEPT G
THE COMPETITION AT THE GIRL'S
TRACK AND FIELD STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP LAST WEEK. MILLER
IS ALSO TRANSGENDER.SOME
PARENTS AND ATHLETES SAY THE
FIRST AND SECOND PLACE
FINISHERS HAVE AN UNFAIR
ADVANTAGE AND THEY WANT A
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. THE
CONNECTICUT INTERSCHOLASTIC
ATHLETIC COMMITTEE SAYS THEIR
POLICY IS THAT STUDENT-
ATHLETES CAN OMCOMPETE FOR THE
GENDER SPECIFIC SPORT THEY
IDENTIFY WITH - THAT'S
DIRECTLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH
STATE LAW.IT BUT TWO PETITIONS
ARE NOW CIRCULATING - ONE IN
PLANVILLE - THE OTHER IN TI
GLASTONBURY - TO CHANGE THAT
RULE. G YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVE MEN ARE STRONGER AND
FASTER SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IF
AN ATHLETE IS BORN MALE BUT
IDENTIFYING AS A DEFEMALE THEY
COMPETE AS - SOME FEMALES WILL
FEEL A PARTICULAR WAY ABOUT
IT. SOME SAY REVERSING THE
RULE WOULD BE GENDER
DISCRIMINATION. EVIF SHE
IDENTIFIES AS A GIRL THEN I
THINK SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
RUN IN THE RACE BECAUSE SHE
CAN USE THE LADIES ROOM, SHE
CAN WEAR A SKIRT, WHY NOT RUN
AND STAY ACTIVE. THE CREAM
RISES TO THE TOP. NO MATTER IF
YOU'RE A BOY OR A GIRL?
ATHLETES NOW WILL TELL YOU IF
YOU PUT UCONN WOMEN ON THE
COURT WITH MEN - UCONN MEN
MIGHT LOSE. PUTHE CIAC SAYING
THEY ARE LISTENING AND
EMPATHIZE BUT THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY COMPLEX LEGAL ISSUE
WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS. YEARWOOD
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE EXACTLY WHO SHE COSAYS SHE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN. EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD
OF STORIES WHERE SOME PEOPLE
DON'T GET THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES AS ME AND HAVE
HAD TO GO THROUGH REALLY W HARD
TIMES WITH THIS.
THE CIAC SAYS THIS POLICY HAS
BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT 10
YEARS. THEY SAY HAVE NOT
RECIEVED ANY PETITIONS FROM
PARENTS OR STUDENT-ATHLETES.
LIVE IN NEWS 8 CONTROL - AMY
