A transgender teen who is biologically a male is being questioned by female athletes and their parents after he outshone most of the competitors in a state track meet in Alaska.
Natthaphon Wangyot, a senior at Haines High School, competed in the girls' division in Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) State Championships on May 27 and 28.
In the finals, he finished third in the 200 meters and fifth in the 100 meters.
But his presence has riled up conservatives who said it is unfair for Wangyot to compete in the girls' division.
Jim Minnery of the Alaska Family Action held a press conference to protest.
"We are here today as a voice from the community to ensure that female athletes are not denied the playing opportunities and scholarships otherwise available to them and to make the playing field even again," said Minnery, according to Alaska Dispatch News.
He said allowing students like Wangyot to play on teams of the opposite sex adversely affects female students, who may "lose spots on a track, soccer and volleyball teams to male students who identify as female."
Last April, the ASAA board of directors voted unanimously to accept the participation decisions at the local level.
If a school or district does not have a transgender policy, the ASAA requires that students compete based on their biological sex.
The Haines Borough School District policy allows Wangyot to compete in girls' sports.
"For the purposes of gender identification for interscholastic activities, the district will consider the gender identity based on the student's consistent declaration of gender identity, their actions, attitude, dress and mannerisms," it said, according to Chilkat Valley News.
Minnery said ASAA should reverse its policy.
"Unfortunately, in adopting a policy that allows students to play on sports teams of the opposite biological sex, the Alaska High School Activities Association strayed from the boundaries of Title IX," he said.
Participant Peyton Young, who won in the Class 4A girls 3,200-meter race, said one's biological sex dictates the gender.
"I don't know what's politically correct to say, but in my opinion your gender is what you're born with," she said. "It's the DNA. Genetically a guy has more muscle mass than a girl, and if he's racing against a girl, he may have an advantage."
