Collegiate Charter School of Lowell was forced to forfeit a basketball game against a team that reportedly included a transgender player after several of its female players suffered injuries.
The matchup against fellow Massachusetts high school team KIPP Academy started with Lowell down by four players. A press release, which preached about “inclusivity and safety” as well as “equity and access for all student-athletes,” detailed the decision to withdraw from the court.
“The bench was already depleted going into the game with the 12-player roster having four players unable to play. When the coach saw three more girls go down in the first half leaving him with five players, he made the call to end the game early,” it reads. “Once the third was injured, the remaining five expressed concern to him about continuing to play. The players feared getting injured and not being able to compete in the playoffs.”
“The Charter School supports this decision and reiterates its values of both inclusivity and safety for all students,” the release concluded. “We take the standards set by the MIAA and our Board of Trustees seriously and strive to uphold them on and off the court. We also follow the guidance from the MIAA and state laws regarding equity and access for all student-athletes.”
Riley Gaines, who herself understands what it is like to go up against transgender athletes in female sports, posted video allegedly from the game.
“Trans-identified male player for Kipp Academy in MA injured 3 girls before half time causing Lowell Collegiate Charter School to forfeit,” she wrote. “A man hitting a woman used to be called domestic abuse. Now it’s called brave. Who watches this & actually thinks this is ‘compassionate, kind, and inclusive’?”
Trans-identified male player for Kipp Academy in MA injured 3 girls before half time causing Lowell Collegiate Charter School to forfeit.
A man hitting a woman used to be called domestic abuse. Now it’s called brave.
Who watches this & actually thinks this is “compassionate,… pic.twitter.com/ZLlqYH6iAs
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) February 19, 2024
According to ItemLive, the transgender player is reportedly “more than 6 feet tall with facial hair,” though the outlet notes that KIPP Academy is refusing to confirm the player’s identity.
Social media users were not happy with the outcome of this game:
The cowardly male basketball player is disgusting for choosing to play against females, but the people in charge who allow this to happen are way more disgusting.
— Louis (@Louie58297) February 19, 2024
This really is ridiculous.
Men can’t play in women’s sports.
Period.
Either abide by those rules or all parents need to pull their kids out of those schools.
It shouldn’t be up to the minors to solve this issue.
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) February 19, 2024
The coach didn’t withdraw because of the guy, but because of fear of players being hurt. He should have called out the male player as the cause.
— Auggie (@AuggieDoggies) February 19, 2024
This is insane!
What rational person would not see that biological men must not be allowed to invade women spaces?
Women fought long and hard to secure their rights and spaces. Men under the guise of equity and inclusion should not be allowed to take them away. This radical…
— Mike Russell for Atlanta (@mikerussellatl) February 19, 2024
People need to quit participating!
Participation = consent!! Quit consenting with lies and perversion!! Parents, be a hero and stand up for your daughters!!— Betsy Tanner (@BetsyTanner11) February 19, 2024
Shameful. This selective compassion is real patriarchy.
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) February 19, 2024
The letter from Lowell is disgusting. It’s good that they expressed support for the coach’s decision, but they should have been honest about why.
Letting a man play on a woman’s team isn’t sport. It’s a gladiatorial match in which severe injury is guaranteed.
— The Sarcasticat (@TheSarcasticist) February 19, 2024
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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