Mary Troiano is a Westford Resident
Title IX is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and other activities receiving federal financial assistance. When it was enacted fifty-three years ago, girls had far fewer athletic opportunities, and discrimination in admissions, course access, and other educational areas was widespread. Title IX transformed the educational landscape by ensuring equal treatment and opening the door to countless scholastic and athletic opportunities for girls.
Today, however, despite its legacy of inclusion, Title IX is increasingly being misused as a tool for exclusion. Some argue that Westford’s policy of allowing transgender and nonbinary students to participate in physical education, intramural, and interscholastic athletics in a manner consistent with their gender identity violates Title IX. This is brazen misinformation.
Title IX’s applicability to transgender athletes competing on teams consistent with their gender identity remains indisputably unsettled. As courts continue to interpret and define Title IX’s scope, it is essential to also consider the broader human reality of inclusion. The physical and mental benefits of youth participation in sports are well documented. Sports help young people build confidence, foster social connections, and develop lifelong wellness habits. These experiences are not just about competition. They are critical to the overall well-being and personal growth of all children. Ensuring that every student has access to these benefits without stigmatization upholds the true spirit of Title IX: equity, opportunity, and belonging. Transgender and gender nonconforming children deserve access to all aspects of student life. They belong in school, and they belong in our wider community.
Title IX was created to open doors, not to close them. As we continue to interpret what equality means in our community, we must remember its original intent: to ensure that every student has the same chance to learn, compete, and thrive. Inclusion should never be seen as a threat to fairness, when in fact it is the foundation of it.
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