Parents of children trying out for female sports teams in Edmonton Public Schools this autumn will be required to sign a form confirming that their child was designated female at birth. This obligation aligns with the recently enacted Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in amateur female sports categories starting from September 1.
Edmonton Public Schools has verified that a form, as seen by CBC News, will be provided to parents whose children wish to join female teams. The form mandates parents to validate that their child meets the criteria to join a female-exclusive team, was assigned female sex at birth, and acknowledges that participation is contingent on written confirmation.
These regulations exclude physical education classes and children under 12 years old. Vanessa Gomez, the press secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring sports are safe, fair, and inclusive for all individuals.
Under the new guidelines, students registering for female-only teams must provide written confirmation of compliance with the policy. Any inquiries regarding the implementation of these rules at school levels should be directed to the relevant organizations.
Numerous other school districts have indicated their intention to implement similar confirmation forms. In cases where a written challenge is raised questioning a student’s eligibility to compete as female, the student may be required to present a birth registration document. Any disputes regarding eligibility must be reported to the provincial authorities.
Advocates of the ban have lauded the legislation for bringing clarity to sports administrators in Alberta. However, critics like Callum French from Team Edmonton expressed concerns about the impact on transgender individuals, highlighting the potential barriers and implications of the new regulations on participation in sports.
French criticized the requirement for permission slips as potentially discouraging girls aged 12 and above from pursuing amateur sports, warning that it could erode trust in sports and deter individuals from engaging in physical activities.
