June 14, 2024
FFS (Female Free Speech) Friday honors women and girls who are speaking out about the harms that “gender identity” poses to women and girls as a sex class. FFS Friday posts are free and shareable. If you would like access to content that delves deeper into the movement to protect the sex-based rights of women and girls and to stop the abolition of sex, please consider a paid subscription.
Today’s FFS Friday honors a young woman named Ava, a high school senior in New York City, who bravely spoke out about a measure to protect female-only sports this past Wednesday.
In 2019, New York City enacted guidelines allowing students to participate in sports on the basis of “gender identity,” rather than on sex. This March, the Community Education Council of District 2 (CEC D2) considered Resolution 248, which calls on the city to establish a new committee (to include female student athletes) to reevaluate the 2019 guidelines. The resolution is quite simple, stating:
CEC D2 democratically enacted this resolution by a clear majority in March.
This month, a CEC D2 member on the losing side of that effort raised a new resolution (Resolution 254) to rescind Resolution 248. A meeting was held Wednesday night. I was at the meeting and will share some insights about it later today for paid subscribers only. For now, I want to highlight Ava’s speech, available here and below.
She said:
Hi. My name is Ava and I’m a senior at Stuyvesant High School.
I’m on the girls’ basketball team and the girls’ flag football team, and editor of the sports section of the school newspaper. I’m a manager of the boys’ football team … I plan to pursue a career in the business of sports.
…
Something I’ve learned about sports and school is about being curious and open-minded, and listening to every voice. That’s why I’m surprised that there’s resistance to Resolution 248, which (as far as I can tell) is about listening.
…
[In passing the 2019 Guidelines] I don’t know if every female athlete or coach was consulted, but I know that every athlete and coach is affected. I hope the Chancellor and others know that each student athlete deserves to be heard where it concerns our safety. I was shocked that those passing this resolution are being silenced, because my New York City education has always taught me that balanced conversation is crucial …
Sports truly changed my life and made me into the person I am today. [It’s important that] every student has the opportunity to participate in sports safely and fairly, with focus on the game. And I trust that we all have that in common. I thank CEC D2 for passing Resolution 248 to protect girls’ sports and I urge you to vote no on Resolution 254. Thank you.
I’m happy to report that a majority of CEC D2 voted no on Resolution 254 that night, and that Resolution 248 still stands. Next stop: Resolution 248 will go before the NYC Panel for Educational Policy later this month. Representatives of Women’s Declaration International USA (WDI USA) will be there to support it.
Ava, today’s FFS Friday is for you. Well done! Your bravery will inspire other teenage girls to speak out, and we’re going to need every last one of us!
It’s hard to overstate the bravery involved in speaking up in this environment. Hats off to Ava!
Kara, thank you so, so much for highlighting Ava, a worthy FFS Friday recipient if ever there was one. Thank you, also, for posting the text, as every word is intelligent and insightful. I want particularly to highlight these words from Ava: “Something I’ve learned about sports and school is about being curious and open-minded, and listening to every voice. That’s why I’m surprised that there’s resistance to Resolution 248, which (as far as I can tell) is about listening.” So grateful to this young woman for her courage and clarity. She is a true leader, and I wish her the very, very best in whatever she chooses to do.