For one question, Camas School District superintendent John Anzalone chose not to answer as an administrator, but rather a father.
He has been navigating what may be the most contentious, controversial sports story in the country right now and understands the angst it has caused numerous teenagers.
That angst came to a head Tuesday when about a dozen runners from the Camas High School girls cross country team walked off the starting line when the gun went off in their race against Battle Ground, a fellow Washington state school. Why? They were protesting their male teammate competing against the females.
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Last month, a Camas sophomore switched to the girls team midseason after finishing 76th in a boys race. He has since won a varsity meet and placed second in two others. Unsurprisingly, this has ballooned into a national story with teammates and opponents staging protests. Anzalone didn’t take a side on the issue, but he empathizes with the students’ plight.
“It’s always hard to see when students are upset, let alone our families. And I know this issue has polarized our country for a long time, and this has probably added to that, right,” Anzalone said. “And so, as a dad, it’s always hard to see your own kids or any kids in the middle of something like this. And that’s probably been the most heartbreaking for me, is to see certain students really kind of in the middle of this, right? They’re kids. So that’s been challenging, and that’s always gonna be hard.”
It’s hard to know exactly how Anzalone or anyone involved with the school feels about the biological male competing in these meets after starting the year with the boys. They have been either neutral (Anzalone) or mute (the coaching staff) when asked about the topic. But at a meet in Arlington, Washington, last Saturday, numerous parents made their disapproval clear. And increasingly, the athletes are doing the same.
This isn’t an easy thing to do. Despite most of the country supporting the separation of biological males and females in sports, the vocal minority can be vicious. A parent last week told me he didn’t want to talk because “I don’t want my house burned down,” while one girl who protested last month said some of her friends stopped acknowledging her.
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But Anzalone wanted to make clear that there will not be consequences for the Camas girls who walked off the line Tuesday.
“The girls are entitled to handle this however is best for them, and I was at the meet and it was peacefully done. And of course, we’ll support whatever they want to do,” Anzalone said. “I felt that this wasn’t just about supporting and protecting (the male runner). This was really about supporting and providing that space for the girls who did walk off to do so and not feel any repercussions. And of course, some of them looked very sad. I think some of them were very conflicted. But they’re also teenagers. They’re still children.”
Next on the Camas cross country schedule is the Greater St. Helen’s League district meet on Oct. 21. A parent of one of the Camas runners who protested Tuesday said she isn’t sure how the girls will proceed. But the district meet allows for only seven varsity runners from each team, meaning the male runner will very likely displace one of his female teammates.
Anzalone said there will be no action taken to prevent such a scenario.
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“As long as WIAA policy allows (the biological male) to run, and she’s eligible to run, she’ll continue running. Nothing’s changed,” Anzalone said. “We don’t make political stances as a school district. We just won’t, and we can’t. And so, as long as the policy stands, we’re going to follow the policy.”
The male runner’s midseason switch violated no rules. Under Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) policy, students are permitted to compete on teams consistent with their gender identity. This could change soon, though. On the November 3 ballot in Washington is Initiative 638, which would require students in K-12 sports to compete on teams corresponding to their biological sex. A spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington — the group behind the initiative — said the measure would take effect 30 days after the November 3 election (although delays in certifying the results could push back that timeline.)
Cross country season would be over by then, but I-638 would prevent similar situations from arising in the future.
About a dozen girls walked away from a cross-country race in Washington on Tuesday after refusing to compete against a male athlete who had started the season racing on the boys’ team. (Amy Souza)
Anzalone said Camas would comply with whatever rules are in place.
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“I’m at a point where I have to stand by policy and by law,” he said. “And like I said earlier, if those change or go in a different direction, we’ll follow that.”
The Camas School District issued its own statement on the matter Wednesday.
“Camas School District recognizes that students and community members hold differing views about athletic eligibility and have the right to express those views peacefully. Our responsibility is to ensure that school-sponsored events remain safe and respectful for all participants, staff, and spectators.
As a Washington public school district and member of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Camas follows applicable state law and WIAA eligibility rules. RCW 28A.642 prohibits discrimination in public schools based on gender identity and gender expression, and current WIAA rules permit students to participate in athletics consistent with their gender identity. The district does not set these eligibility standards independently.
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We will continue to prioritize student safety, privacy, and well-being. We do not discuss individual students’ eligibility, personal circumstances, or potential disciplinary matters.”