Photo Credit: NAYS
The discussion about sexual identity and gender equity in sports, and whether boys and girls should be competing against each other, is as complex and tricky as ever. And it has not become easier as society continues to debate sexual and gender identity.
As the father of an 18-year-old gay son who has been very comfortable with his identity for quite a while, I see how competing against other children can be a complicated issue to navigate. A recent article in the Denver Post about the Colorado state high-school wrestling tournament raised some interesting points for all those who oversee sports programs for children and teens.
How To Treat A Lady
A high school wrestler by the name of Brendan Johnston forfeited two matches and gave up his shot at placing in the state tournament because he did not want to wrestle a girl. Johnston did this not out of protest, but because it went against his nature to “… treat a young lady like that on the mat.” This hit home with me for a number of reasons. As a high school wrestler myself (30 years ago), I never would have wanted to compete against a girl in that sport. For me, the uneasiness of all the physical contact, coupled with the mental anxiety, wouldn’t have been worth it—even for a title. I distinctly remember discussing this possibility with the coaches of our high-school and club teams, and we were all glad not to have had to deal with the issue at the time.