Thurston County Democrats, an affiliate of the Washington State Democratic Party, stood firm in support of transgender students and “their right” to participate fully in public school athletics in a Facebook post on Thursday, Feb. 27.
Thurston County Democrats wrote that every student deserves the opportunity to play, compete and belong “without fear of exclusion or discrimination.” The organization’s statement came three weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “keep men out of women’s sports.” The order can be viewed at the White House’s official website, or at https://tinyurl.com/NVNWhiteHouseExecutiveOrder.
It also comes as the Tumwater School District is facing a federal investigation for allowing a trans player in a girls basketball game.
The group stated that Washington state has long recognized that inclusion strengthens communities, and that the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s (WIAA) attempts to ban transgender students from school sports are discriminatory and contradict values of fairness, dignity and equal opportunity.
“We reject any efforts to marginalize transgender youth in our schools. As Democrats, we believe in policies that foster belonging and protect every student’s right to an education and extracurricular experience free from harm and prejudice,” Thurston County Democrats wrote. “We stand with our trans students, their families, and the educators working to create safe, inclusive schools in Thurston County and beyond.
“Election Day is coming,” the group added.
Thurston County Democrats work as an official part of Washington State Democrats, and focus on local and state issues that affect cities and towns within the county directly. The group’s three primary focuses on its website are “standing up for Thurston County,” “bringing people together,” and “shaping the future.”
To learn more about the group, visit www.ThurstonDemocrats.org.
