Teen faces civil rights inquiry for opting out of game against transgender basketball player
Fifteen-year-old Frances Staudt was preparing for her final game of the season when she decided not to play.
The game involved a transgender player from the opposing team, which prompted Frances to inform her coach about her refusal.
This situation escalated quickly, leading to significant backlash and threats against Frances and her family.
Frances’s mother, Aimee Staudt, spoke out about the incident.
She claimed that the school knew about the potential conflict but did not take steps to address it before the game.
“They [the school district] could have avoided this happening,” Aimee told Steve Doocy on Thursday.
“They knew, admittedly, that there was going to be this situation, and they had a meeting, the principal, the superintendent, and the athletic director to discuss the fact that this was a potential situation that was coming up.”
Reaction from the school district
Following the incident, the Tumwater School District launched an investigation into Frances for allegedly “misgendering” her opponent.
Frances’s mother argued that the school failed to communicate properly and put the students in a difficult position.
After warming up for the game on February 7, Frances approached the athletic director to explain her refusal to play.
The athletic director responded by saying that the school would not discriminate based on sexual identity, in line with Washington state laws.
The Civil Rights Complaint
In response to the situation, the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR) filed a civil rights complaint on behalf of Frances.
The complaint was submitted to the Department of Education, stating that Frances faced bullying and harassment for her beliefs.
Aimee Staudt explained that the school environment became hostile after the incident.
“When [Frances] was leaving, she was so mad, she felt like she had been exposed, and it was just a terrible situation,” Aimee said.
“She walked by and said that ‘you’re a man.’ She was so frustrated in the situation, and that is why she has been now charged with bullying, harassment, and intimidation for misgendering this person.”
Support and Backlash
Frances took to social media to share her side of the story. However, her statements were met with criticism and threats.
The transgender athlete involved later mentioned that she would have been willing to sit out the game if anyone had expressed discomfort.
The incident has sparked a larger debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports.
Many supporters of Frances argue that she should have the right to compete without feeling uncomfortable.
Others support the rights of transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity.
“If any other person or player I’m playing against is like, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with this,’ I don’t mind sitting out,” she said on the YouTube series “[un]Divided with Brandie Kruse.”
School district’s statement
The Tumwater School District released a statement acknowledging the diverse perspectives among students and families.
They emphasized their commitment to creating an inclusive environment where all students feel safe and valued.
The district also noted that students have the right to make personal decisions regarding their participation in athletic events.
“We recognize that students and families hold diverse perspectives on various topics, including participation in athletics, and we respect the rights of individual students to make their personal decisions regarding their participation in athletic events.”
“As a district, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel safe, supported, and valued,” it read.
Aimee said: “We did get a letter late Friday that they have found that… she has violated WIAA policy.
She hasn’t violated Tumwater School policy, so now they’ve placed her on what they’re saying is, if there’s any further incidents, she can be charged with further discipline.”
“So it’s basically like they’re holding this over her head.”