WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — Members of a northeast Ohio school board said they support remaining a part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association following a discussion of the association's policies for transgender athletes.

What You Need To Know

  • Willoughby-Eastlake school board discussed the OHSAA's policy on transgender athletes

  • No one spoke up in support of leaving the OHSAA over the policy

  • The OHSAA said transgender students can play girls' sports if the athlete meets certain conditions

At a work session Wednesday night, the Willoughby-Eastlake school board discussed the OHSAA’s policy on transgender athletes. Five board members and the superintendent were there, but no one spoke up in support of leaving the OHSAA over the policy. The OHSAA said transgender students can play girls’ sports if the athlete meets certain conditions. Some parents, like Stacey McGuigan, said leaving the OHSAA would hurt the students. 

“I can’t imagine that they would ever do that frankly. It’s just too critical for all of the livelihood of our students,” McGuigan said.

The school board president said the work session was scheduled to make sure board members have all the information they need prior to a scheduled vote on Monday. 

It’s a vote that takes place every year, to decide whether the district will renew its membership with the OHSAA.

“I asked that in the event for a reason we were not a member of OHSAA. Who could we compete against? And in reality, it’s very limiting. Every district in Ohio participates in OHSAA,” said Krista Bair, board member for Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools.

Right now, Willoughby Eastlake said it doesn’t have any transgender female athletes.

OHSAA said it has approved 21 transgendered females to play girls’ sports over the last nine years.

It’s a topic board members said they have asked the OHSAA about.

“I asked very directly, ‘Have there been any complaints from female athletes, coaches, administrators or parents from these schools that had transgender female athletes play?’ and she said zero,” Bair said.

“We can only speak to Ohio, we can only speak to our district and any misinformation that people may have come to the meeting with was debunked last night,” McGuigan said.

According to a spokesperson for the OHSAA, other school districts have considered leaving over this issue as well, but none has gone through with it.

Meanwhile, a Franklin County judge is scheduled to hear a lawsuit over House Bill 68 later next week. If enacted, the bill would make it illegal for a transgender female to play girls’ sports.