The Lancaster County Democratic Committee fully supports transgender student athletes who simply want to play sports at their public schools. Unfortunately, there is a strong movement afoot in Hempfield School District to deny these students their right to play. In April, the Hempfield School board formed a committee to review and update their existing policy on interscholastic athletic participation. The School Board intends to vote on these changes at their July 13th meeting.
In our State legislature in April, five Republican state representatives proposed discriminatory legislation, House Bill 972, which would mandate “sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed” and only allow students to participate solely based on their sex assigned at birth.
We must be outspoken on this issue. We must always care for and support LGBTQ+ students. The organizations that are leading this fear-based charge are the same ones who fight the simple right of transgender people to exist. These are cruel and misguided attempts to exert social control, to push hate, and to perpetuate myths in the social discourse along the lines of the Big Lie.
Please join us at the Hempfield School Board meeting on Tuesday, July 13th as we show our unending support for transgender students in Hempfield and across the county.
What: Hempfield School Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: 200 Church St, Landisville, PA.
Arrive before 5:30 with signs affirming our transgender student athletes.
In solidarity,
Diane Topakian
Chair
Lancaster County Democratic Committee
