Editor,
In response to my father Coach Sell’s June 2 guest perspective, which defended the right of all high schoolers to participate in public high school sports free from intimidation and transphobic attacks, Michelle Koskella denied that any attacks on kids have occurred.
Then, in the next sentence, praised the protesters at multiple high school track meets for their harassment and intentional misgendering of girl athletes who they and Koskella herself insist on calling “biological boys.” Transgender girls are girls, and to argue otherwise with the knowledge that these kids live every day, just trying to fit in, just trying to be themselves, at higher rates of depression and a higher risk of suicide is indeed vicious and dangerous.
Koskella writes regretfully that athletes and families “were not able to object themselves for fear of backlash.” This is correct and right; athletes and parents who would direct these same ignorant objections at high school competitors would be engaging in the exact kind of harmful, discriminatory harassment and bullying the CIF Code of Conduct forbids.
While Koskella is not governed by that code, her assertion that trans girls are “boys who ‘identify’ as girls to compete with the girls” is as ignorant and heartless as it is detached from reality.
Justin Sell
San Mateo
The letter writer is the Aragon High School Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ swim coach.
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(13) comments
Contrary to the Sell family's opinion, "Biological boys" is correct terminology and not harassment. The vast majority of people do understand that there are biological differences between the sexes and advantages conferred by male puberty. It is unfortunate that a local swimming coach doesn't seem to.
Justin also misrepresented my letter, I never state that boys identify as girls (in order) "to compete with the girls", I stated that testosterone suppression is not required at the HS level for them to (be allowed) to compete. (Word limit, perhaps that was not clear.) Why did you not address this issue Justin, or the inherent biological advantages of one sex? Why do the rights of girls and women not matter to you? If we are going to resort to name calling ("bullying", "vicious", "harassment"), sounds like Justin is a misogynist.
I find it fascinating that that some men (I assume Justin and Steve Sell identify as such) are such strong proponents of admitting trans girls into female sports. It certainly raises the question of why they are not equally invested in biological girls' right to compete fairly and safely. I agree that this is misogyny. First the repeal of Roe v Wade, now this. Girls coming into adulthood today will be the first generation of American women with fewer rights than their mothers.
You don’t have to understand someone’s identity to respect it. All people, even those whose identities you don’t fully understand, deserve respect.
this letter decries hate but is filled with it.
Much like the opinion piece published by Coach Sell, this letter too (intentionally or unintentionally) mixes parents desire for fairness with terms like "Transphobia". It is increasing divisiveness instead of coming up with solutions. It is NOT transphobic to ask for fairness in sports.
WA has updated their ruling on this topic in March 2023 - why? Because there are problems with the current approach which the author and Coach Sell are pretending do not exist.
Decision from WA (international sports governing body) on this subject-
—
“Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said in a statement.
“We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and male advantage which will inevitably develop over the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount.”
—
Link: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/03/23/sport/world-athletics-transgender-ruling-spt-intl/index.html
Hello, Justin
Your dad has a tough job… tougher than most people realize.
I wrote in response to Mark Simon’s column last week on this topic, “I can understand why some parents feel girls are being cheated when a trans athlete competes against their daughters and wins. Do they have a case?”
A lot of parents and many athletes are grappling with this issue and wondering what our priority as a community should be. Should our priority be to give girls an opportunity to participate or should it be to give them an opportunity to compete?
Some parents and athletes argue that trans athletes have physical advantages over girls. Do they have a case? I don’t have the definitive answer to that question. However, how should we fold performance into the discussion? When you compare International Association of Athletic Foundations (IAFF) results for the best women athletes in the world against the best men in eleven track and field events, the men did better in all categories. The same is true when you compare record results of the best women athletes in the world against the best boys' records. When a biological male transitions to competing in girls’ sports, that trans athlete may be bringing some unique physical advantages to the competition.
This conversation would not be taking place a few short years ago, but things have changed. Persons opposed to recent changes have the right to object to those changes, and it is equally true that folks who agree with the changes have a right to support those changes. Perhaps more change is in the offing. Should we change sports programs and create sports with only an open category? Should we create sports categories that include a category only for biological girls? Should we create sports categories that permit athletes to choose where they will compete?
Again, should our priority be to give girls an opportunity to participate or should it be to give them an opportunity to compete?
Well written Ray. What is completely unacceptable is to label parents with whatever is the "word-of-the-day" for speaking up for their children and in the interest of fairness. The right thing to do would have been for the school district to invite open dialogue from all sides and aim to find common ground and solutions. Open category is one such solution.
At the same time, it will help everyone to zoom out and understand how international sports governing bodies are ruling on this topic. I have pasted WA's decision in a separate comment.
The decisions of international sports bodies are not terribly relevant. To ban a select few high school students from competitions is not right or fair. The anti-trans drumbeat is a political tool of right-wing politicians, who have a vested interested in raising the levels of hate in our society.
ball was MVP at aragon some years ago also delighted aragon made CCs I was delight4e to read justin sell was a swim coach at aragon. my son tom Ball was mvp 1989 before graduation. SAn Mateo Aquatics bpught lane lines and lane markers in exchange for training at Aragon..we had a great didtrice relationship as our parens were mary janney a board district member and others I can't remember now...one meet the kids skated down the ramp in ice it was so cold...some of the best swim meetas as one parents said meets are great of you want to wach grass grow...so true...keep up your coaching i have dealt with trass genders in my family now that seems to be over.... good luck and keep up the swimming as zada taft would say and sign swimmingly one of your parents that has been there and done that and bought the t shirt...
"Transgender girls are girls.." This is just objectively false and detached from reality. The Sell boys are demanding that parents accept a false reality that is detrimental for their female children. In my opinion, they should both not be in positions of authority where children are involved.
You don’t have to understand someone’s identity to respect it. Some people haven’t heard a lot about transgender identity, or have trouble understanding what it means to be trans, and that’s okay. But all people, even those whose identities you don’t fully understand, deserve respect.
I respect everyone as a human being - whatever identity you want to go by is fine by me. At the end of the day, Im nobody to judge. But what I have a problem with is when this so called "respect" infringes on the rights of other children. Thats a big problem. Your identity, whatever it may be, does not afford you the right to gain an unfair advantage over other children. Children born as boys have an unfair advantage over girls in sport - anybody who has really played at a high level understands that. I doubt you have played competitive sports - so your opinion on this issue is more or less irrelevant. Im not saying these kids should be marginalized. Im saying athletics is the LAST place to have this debate - because it will never be right. Ever. People like you are doing these kids a disservice by demanding these conversations be had in improper spheres. You dont force a puzzle piece when its not the right place - it will ruin future connections. And you are right, I havent hear a lot about transgender identity. Can you tell me what it is exactly?
I also remember Steve Sell saying parents should sue the state if they dont like the policy. These 4 female High School athletes from Connecticut are doing just that while directly challenging ALL of Steve Sells claims about transgenders in high school sports. Im guessing Mr. Sell might soon get his wish and parents will start suing the state of California and hopefully CIF as well.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/female-hs-track-athlete-suing-connecticut-transgender-policy-disheartening
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