Donald Trump Jr. said a “grave misjustice” had been committed after two transgender sprinters took first and second place in the girls 55-meter dash of Connecticut’s indoor high school indoor track championships.
“I feel so sorry for the young ladies who trained their whole lives to be the best in their state and to hopefully attain scholarships etc etc… this is a grave injustice,” President Trump’s eldest son tweeted.
I feel so sorry for the young ladies who trained their whole lives to be the best in their state and to hopefully attain scholarships etc etc… this is a grave injustice. https://t.co/cduhojza4B
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 25, 2019
Terry Miller, the winner, runs for Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Conn., and Andraya Yearwood, the runner-up, runs for Cromwell High School in Cromwell, Conn. Both were born biologically male, according to the Associated Press. The two students have consistently won or finished high in competitions going back to last year, including an outdoor 100-meter dash and an indoors 300-meter run. Yearwood said she embraces the negativity, and if other athletes see an unfair advantage they should push themselves that much harder to overcome it.
“I use the negativity to fuel myself to run faster,” Yearwood said. “One high jumper could be taller and have longer legs than another, but the other could have perfect form, and then do better. One sprinter could have parents who spend so much money on personal training for their child, which in turn, would cause that child to run faster.”
Connecticut is one of 17 states, according to Transathlete.com, that allows high school transgender athletes to compete with no restrictions. However, their cisgendered competitors feel differently. Selina Soule finished eighth in the 55-meter run and missed out on qualifying for the New England regionals.
“We all know the outcome of the race before it even starts; it’s demoralizing,” Soule said. “I fully support and am happy for these athletes for being true to themselves. They should have the right to express themselves in school, but athletics have always had extra rules to keep the competition fair.”
While movements exist to change Connecticut’s competition rules, other states require birth certificates and gender transition surgery to be completed or in progress before competition is allowed.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly said Terry Miller ran for Cromwell High School. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
