Transgender athletes ban passed by the House – what it means for OSU

By SYDNI ZIDAREVICH Sports Contributor

The House of Representatives passed the transgender athletes ban on April 20.

This ban would prohibit transgender athletes whose sex assigned at birth was male from competing on girls’ or women’s sports teams at federally supported schools and colleges under legislation.

Supporters of the legislation said that ban is necessary to “ensure competitive fairness” and would put violators at risk of losing tax dollars, according to ESPN.

This decision would follow the steps of 20 other states that have implemented and imposed similar regulations on transgender athletes at the K-12 or collegiate level.

This bill, if passed, would change the landmark civil rights legislation of Title IX, which works to protect student athletes from sex-based discrimination at any school that receives federal funding.

Transgender athlete, Oliver Cochener, regards the ban as a setback.

“I will say it is disheartening to see people celebrate discrimination against others,” Cochener said. “I feel athletic policies should not be made by our government as many people choose to play sports for fun and most leagues already have their own policies to fit their own sports.”

Even though the bill was approved by a 219-203 party-line vote, it has been reported that the advancement of the bill is expected to stop here, as it is said the Senate will not support [the bill] and the White House already declared that President Joe Biden would veto it.

“Oregon State University extends rights and protections beyond those currently required under federal or state law, specifically based on gender identity and gender expression,” Interim Executive Director and Title IX Coordinator Susan Freccia said.

OSU and OSU Athletes are a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association institution, which regulates student athletes across the country, Canada and Puerto Rico. Due to this, OSU and all of its constituents are required to follow NCAA regulations and policies, including policies pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Per the NCAA website, the NCAA Transgender Student-Athlete Participation policy “aligns transgender student-athlete participation with the Olympic Movement… the updated NCAA policy calls for transgender student-athlete participation for each sport to be determined by the policy for the national governing body of that sport.”

According to Kimya Massey, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Steering Committee, both OSU and OSU Athletics follow the NCAA policy that has taken a sport-by-sport approach.

“In addition, we strongly believe that inclusivity is a hallmark of the university and OSU Athletics, this is who we are,” Massey stated. “We believe in inclusion for all of our student-athletes and always strive to ensure that everyone is given the resources needed to be successful on and off the fields of play.”

According to OSU’s sexual misconduct and discrimination policy, the university is committed to creating and maintaining an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment as the “university embraces and respects differences in sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation among all individuals.”

This policy also addresses that, “All individuals who are participating in university programs and activities have the right to do so fully, free from sexual misconduct, discrimination, and retaliation.”

OSU’s sexual misconduct and discrimination policy was established in line with Title IX, including the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act of 2013, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other applicable state and federal civil rights laws.

“When a student-athlete shares that they identify as transgender, we ensure that they have access to the resources they need to be successful in all aspects of their life here at Oregon State,” Massey said. “The university and OSU Athletics offer specific training and programming around multiple dimensions of diversity and identity to support all student-athletes as needed.”

A: I think it’s a little too early to give an exact prediction until things get settled with the transfer portal, departures from the team, and the new incoming freshman into the program. Now, I would expect this team to be improved and win more than 11 games, which won’t cut it by any means in terms of being a successful season, but it will still be better than the 3-28 season two years ago. I do think that a potential expectation for the Beavers’ record for the 202324 season would be somewhere around .500, but that’s a very early prediction before seeing the finalized roster.

Q: Any word on how Kelze Howard and Thomas Collins have looked in spring practice? Or any other D-lineman standing out? - @BEAVERSFAN69

A: Both Kelze Howard and Thomas Collins have looked good so far in spring practices, but Howard has gotten a lot more buzz throughout spring practices than Collins. Howard arrived on campus in winter term and has dealt with a bit of an early learning curve thrown at him but has picked up the playbook so far in spring practices. Howard could potentially have a role as a contributor on the defensive line this season depending on how fall camp looks for him, but we’ll have to wait and see. The other linemen on the defensive side of the ball that have stood out to me so far are Takari Hickle, Sione Lolohea, and Joe Golden.

Hey readers! Want your Oregon State Sports questions answered on The DAM mailbag? Submit them to me on Twitter @ RYAN_HARLAN7 or by email HARLANR@OREGONSTATE.EDU

Zach Lame

Continued from PAGE 6 would be being PAC-12 champion. I know everyone in our locker room wants to win, so even a college cup, I think that's like the cherry on top. Being able to make that trip to the final four for soccer would be insane.”

Overcoming adversity and rehabbing from an ankle injury for the past year never detoured him from chasing his goal, no matter how hard it may have gotten.

“I wanted this to happen before senior year, but I had to deal with the cards I was dealt,” Lame said.

On April 8, Lame’s name was called by the coaching staff with around 20 minutes left in the match to enter the game.

“I remember just being on the sideline, like, ‘This is gonna happen. I worked very hard for this and now I get my chance,’” Lame said. “It was a nice feeling to get (my) first game, first appearance, and first win. I think it comes with sacrifices and failures.”

Senior Luke Ness, one of Lame’s five roommates, attended the Beavers’ first Spring match against Varsity FC, staying the entirety of the match, not wanting to miss the potential moment of Lame achieving his childhood dream.

“I think it was cool, it was something he was always talking about doing,” said Ness. “He proved a lot of people wrong. He went all the way to Spain to play soccer and came back never giving up on what he wanted to do, not a lot of people can say that.”

Although the future is uncertain, Lame has had to think about his future in life and what he wants to accomplish outside of soccer.

“My main goal after soccer, once I hang up the boots, would be to work in the sports business world … maybe event management or retail sales management, all of that,” Lame said. “Whatever I can do in sports, I think that would be cool. Doesn't need to just be soccer. I'm an avid sports fan. Obviously, growing up in L.A., one of the best sports cities in the world … if I got the chance to work back home, that'd be great.”

At times he questioned if his body had enough left in the tank to make it to the division-one level, but Lame never gave up on his goal Lame shows how dreams can come to reality.