While two transgender athletes dominated the 100 and 200 meter dashes at Connecticut’s state championships for girls track and field, some parents launched petitions to make sure that competitions are restricted to athletes who were the same gender at birth.
The Hartford Courant reported that Bianca Stanescu, whose daughter Selina Soule finished sixth in the 100-meter State Open final, was circulating one petition at track meets. Her petition asks the state legislature to require athletes to compete in sports based on their gender at birth, unless the athlete has undergone hormone therapy. Soule herself said, “I think it’s unfair to the girls who work really hard to do well and qualify for Opens and New Englands. These girls, they’re just coming in and beating everyone. I have no problem with them wanting to be a girl.”
The Courant reports that the second petition was created by Jarmaine Lee, whose sons run in Plainville. That petition was sent to all of the high school athletic directors in the state.
The two transgender athletes, Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, dominated the 100 and 200 yard dash; Miller won first place in the 100 and 200 meter dash; Andraya took second in the 100 meter dash.
As of June 5, according to the Courant, Stanescu’s petition had 60 signatures; Lee’s had 88.