American Parents Coalition Calls for Investigation into YMCA
The American Parents Coalition is urging the Trump administration to look into the YMCA over accusations of “illegal gender-based discrimination in its programs and policies.” In a letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Alliegemare, the executive director of the coalition, claims that the YMCA is implementing a policy that disproportionately benefits young girls.
The letter states, “The YMCA’s policy of supporting and empowering individuals who harbor animosity towards young girls compromises their safety and encourages them to present as genders other than their biological sex, which contradicts federal civil rights law and the foundations of gender equality.” Male added that it’s “morally wrong and legally unacceptable.”
Moreover, the YMCA’s website features an archived page from July 3, 2017, titled “How to Create a Safe Space for an LGBTQ+ Camper.” The guidelines recommend that all campers and staff have access to facilities aligned with their gender identity. Experts also suggest using gender-neutral pronouns when talking about parents or partners.
An additional archived page from June 7, 2022, encourages unity at the YMCA, regardless of factors like age, cultural background, or gender identity. However, the current statement on the YMCA’s site emphasizes its commitment to serving people of all ages and backgrounds, anchored by core values of compassion, integrity, respect, and responsibility.
The American Parents Coalition contends that the YMCA is violating Title IX regulations, given that it receives over $600 million in government funding. They argue, “The law is quite clear. This wide-ranging prohibition underscores the law’s role in eliminating gender-based obstacles to women’s equal participation in activities, ensuring American women can pursue their interests fairly.”
The letter also brought attention to various instances across YMCA locations where women reportedly had to share facilities with men. For instance, in Kansas City, Missouri, an allegation surfaced involving a biological man allegedly exposing himself to a seven-year-old girl and her mother at a YMCA. Additionally, an incident in California was mentioned where a 17-year-old girl reported seeing a trans individual change in the women’s locker room.
