TRENTON, NJ — At the recent Roxbury Board of Education meeting, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia voiced strong opposition to the existing transgender student policy, which currently allows males who identify as females to participate in girls’ sports.
The board debated whether to continue with this policy.
A seasoned educator and school administrator, Fantasia criticized the state’s Policy 5756 for disadvantaging female student athletes. She highlighted the negative impact of the policy on female sports, citing increased risks of injury, scholarship losses, and diminished opportunities.
Fantasia stressed that the physiological differences between biological males and females create an unequal playing field, undermining the gains made under Title IX.
The 1972 Education Amendments Act’s Title IX opened federal funding for girls’ sports but did not define “sex,” leading to ongoing debates and upcoming regulatory updates expected in the summer. Currently, 23 states have imposed bans or restrictions on male participation in female sports.
Highlighting broader concerns, Fantasia mentioned Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, who has taken legal action against the NCAA for Title IX violations, spotlighting her competition against a transgender opponent and related privacy issues in locker rooms.
The board ultimately decided to abolish the policy with a close 5-4 vote. Meanwhile, Fantasia is pushing forward with the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” (A775), aiming to mandate that student athletes participate on teams that align with their biological sex, promoting fairness and safety in school sports.