Ohio School Districts Face Federal Charges Over Transgender Sports Policy
Two school districts in Ohio are under federal scrutiny for allegedly violating civil rights laws after a video emerged showing administrators willing to conceal male students’ biological sex to allow them to participate in girls’ sports.
Leaders from Dayton Public School District (DPSD) and Three Rivers School (TRS) were recorded discussing strategies to keep the identities of male students secret, aiming to grant them access to girls’ spaces. This came to light through a complaint filed by Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), based on an undercover video from Accuracy In Media (AIM) where investigators posed as prospective parents.
“If the birth certificate lists female, then we’ll adhere to that,” mentioned Carla Rodriguez, a DPSD administrator, in the AIM footage.
Moreover, Maurice Neal from the Athletics Department noted the existence of transgender athletes, stating that their identities remain confidential and aren’t shared with the parents of other students involved in sports.
No response was received from DPSD regarding a request for comments from the media.
Debbie Fox, EMIS Coordinator at TRS, commented that a male student could enroll as a female if his birth certificate were changed, stating that “no one will be able to tell the difference.” Former Superintendent Mark Ault added that having redacted birth certificates could be beneficial.
In response to inquiries, TRS confirmed that one of the individuals mentioned in the video has passed away, while another has retired.
Formal complaints have been lodged with the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice. According to PPT, the schools appear to be “deliberately indifferent to harassment” and are in clear violation of Ohio law as well as Title IX guidelines.
PPT Director Michael Chamberlain remarked, “Another day brings more evidence of schools in Ohio promoting a discriminatory mindset that clearly defies both state law and Title IX.” He expressed concern that this problematic ideology seems deeply entrenched among those within the education system.
Ohio law mandates that school facilities be determined by biological sex and explicitly prohibits gender reassignment procedures for minors, which includes hormone blockers. A previous executive order by former President Donald Trump also disallows male participation in women’s sports.
Chamberlain concluded by suggesting that if state law changes do not compel these schools to rectify their policies, a federal investigation might be necessary.
