Transgender Teen Restored to Her Soccer Team After Being Removed
A recent decision by the Kearsage Regional School District in New Hampshire has restored a transgender youth to her soccer team after Republican lawmakers sought to exclude her.
(Members of the Kearsage School Board prepare for a meeting on August 29th. Screenshot from a Zoom meeting.)
Prior to the beginning of the fall 2024 season, Maelle Jacques, a transgender girl attending high school in the Kearsage Regional School District in New Hampshire, had been playing with her youth soccer team for five years. After the passage and signing of HB 1205, which its sponsors called the “Fairness in Women's Sports Act,” Jacques was removed from her team.
The bill mandated all transgender minors play on sports teams conforming with the gender assigned to them on a birth certificate. For Jacques, who lives and presents as a woman full-time, this meant being separated from her friends. Her teammates and coaches expressed interested in having her back on the team.
What followed was a school board meeting for Kearsage on August 29th in which people from all over the state spoke for and against Jacques returning to the team. Among those who spoke in favor of Jacques returning was Linda Tanner, state representative for Sullivan District 5, representing Sullivan and Sunapee.
“Treating her as though she is not a girl is just plain wrong,” Tanner said.
Dr. Kristine Arsnow, a pediciatrician working for Concord Hospital, also spoke in favor of Jacques returning to the team.
“Treat trans girls like girls and treat trans boys like boys,” Arsnow said. “Excluding them sets a bad example for all of our children.”
“Put our students first. Guarantee them for, as long as possible, participation in sports teams that align with their gender identity,” said Greg Sargent, a resident of Newbury running for state represenative this year. “Let's reject the discrimination of HB 1205.”
Among those who did not support Maelle returning to the team were Beth and Steven Scaer, residents of Nashua, each of whom drove at least an hour to attend the meeting in person. Beth Scaer is an anti-LGBTQ+ activist who regularly speaks out against measures to benefit LGBTQ+ citizens in New Hampshire.
In June, she took photos of a pride flag that was erected at the Nashua city hall for pride month. In 2017, she provided testimony to lawmakers at the state house in Concord, suggesting she would feel unsafe if she found “a man” in the bathroom with her. During the August 29th meeting, she began misgendering Jacques, whereupon she was warned she would be escorted off the property by a police officer if she continued using “derogatory language.”
Ann Marie Banfield, who volunteered for the anti-trans group Cornerstone until 2019, suggested the school district wait until the state's court system had a chance to weigh in.
Some people expressed fears that Jacques' participation would lead to injuries for other student athletes. Jacques', in her position as the team's goalkeeper, said it's more common for the goalie to be injured than for the goalie to injure someone else.
Following the meeting, John Fortney, Superindendent of Kearsage, said, “The School Board voted 6-1 to follow Title IX and NHIAA guidelines with respect to gender identity.”
With Jacques off the team, they lost their first game of the year. When she returned, they lost again.
“I think overall the school board meeting was a really good feeling,” Jacques said. “As for most of it, it was primarily a largely positive space. The nerves were certainly there. It wasn't as serious as it was before, considering I've spoken in the Senate and House education committees.”
A lawsuit is ongoing challenging HB 1205 filed by the families of transgender youths Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle. Tirrel has thus far been allowed to play until an emergency order expires on September 10th. Turmelle plans to play sports in December.
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