CONCORD, N.H. — School district representatives defended their actions during a recent hearing regarding the disciplinary measures taken against two parents who sported pink wristbands labeled “XX” at a soccer match that featured a transgender player. The hearing centered on whether the district can enforce similar penalties while facing a lawsuit from the parents.
Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote faced bans from school property following the game in September, as officials interpreted the wristbands as acts of intimidation against a transgender competitor. The parents have since filed a lawsuit against Bow school district. Although the no-trespass orders they received have now expired, a judge is currently deliberating on allowing the plaintiffs to wear the wristbands and display signs at forthcoming school events, which include basketball games, swimming competitions, and music concerts, while the legal case continues.
Both Fellers and Foote testified that they did not mean to harass or specifically target the transgender player on the opposing team. Their legal team argued that their actions were merely a silent demonstration of support for keeping girls’ sports exclusive to individuals born female. However, school district administrators provided testimonies suggesting they had reasons to doubt the men’s claims of benign intentions.
Superintendent Marcy Kelley, along with Bow High School Athletic Director Michael Desiletes, recounted receiving strong emails from Foote, in which he identified as a “real leader” ready to take a stance. They also noted Foote’s social media posts that encouraged others to be present at the match. Moreover, in the lead-up to the game, another parent reported overhearing conversations about attending the event in dresses and possibly heckling the transgender player.
“When we suspect there’s some sort of threat … we don’t wait for it to happen,” Kelley stated, drawing a parallel to the proactive approach school officials take to prevent potential conflicts among students.
Kelley further refuted the notion that the plaintiffs were merely showing support for their daughters and teammates overall, highlighting that the wristbands were worn specifically during the match featuring the transgender athlete. “This was organized and targeted,” she asserted. “If we were to allow harassment, we’re liable.”
The transgender athlete involved, Parker Tirrell, along with another student, is actively contesting a state law that prohibits transgender athletes in grades 5 through 12 from participating in teams that align with their gender identity. A federal judge has granted them the right to compete in sports during the ongoing legal proceedings aimed at overturning this regulation.
Governor Chris Sununu, who enacted the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act in July, has stated that the legislation “ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions.” Approximately half of U.S. states have initiated similar laws addressing this issue.