MHSA: Transgender student-athlete proposal will likely be withdrawn

HELENA — A controversial proposal from the Montana High School Association that would allow transgender student-athletes to compete in activities of a gender different than the student’s sex at birth will likely be withdrawn at the governing body’s annual meeting this weekend in Kalispell.

Mark Beckman, executive director of the MHSA, noted in a press release on Thursday that there was a lack of support for the proposed amendment to the group’s by-laws at regional administrative meetings throughout the state and that a poll of voting members of the executive board indicates they intend to withdraw the proposal based on insufficient support to achieve the required two-thirds majority of votes.

All proposals are voted on only by those representatives of the 179 member schools of the MHSA in attendance. Once a proposal is withdrawn, there can be no further discussion of the topic on the floor.

As originally drawn, the proposal would have allowed transgender student-athletes to request to participate in an interscholastic activity with members of the gender they identify with.

Before being approved, the student would have to notify his or her school, fill out an eligibility application and provide proper documentation. The application would be brought before a committee comprised of a physician, a mental health worker and a gender identity advocate before being ruled on by the MHSA. The entire process would take up to 14 days, with another seven days allowed for appeals.

In its original rationale, the MHSA indicated it was trying to get ahead of the issue should the situation arise concerning a transgender athlete. The governing body felt it was imperative that its membership adopt a policy that would “be applied consistently in regard to gender identity eligibility.”

The MHSA annual meetings will be held this weekend at the Hilton Garden Inn in south Kalispell. Proposals will be acted on Monday afternoon. Other items being brought to the board are the end of the Sunday activity ban, a proposal to expand the amount of time golf coaches are able to be in contact during competitions, and an increase from $50 to $100 for non-cash awards to student participants in MHSA-sanctioned events.