‘Gee and Ursula’ call out ‘ironic’ school board complaint over trans athletes

The Kennewick School Board is asking the Trump administration to enforce its executive order ban on transgender girls from sports competitions. School board members say they need federal intervention because the district is stuck in a difficult spot as state law conflicts with the Trump administration’s order.

“It’s ironic that they are reaching out to the Department of Education,” said Ursula Reutin of the “Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio. She added, “The whole reason for getting rid of the Department is to give control to the state. So now, what is it that they’re arguing for?”

Co-host Gee Scott also noted the irony: supporters of Trump’s policy are focused on following federal law, but will seemingly overlook state law.

“Those executive orders don’t supersede the law in the state,” Gee said. “I find it also funny that the same people who say, ‘get rid of the Department of Education,’ are trying to go to the federal folks so they can get help.”

‘Trans people have existed since the beginning of time’

Ursula noted that given the amount of “time and energy” the Trump administration is putting into the order, one might think that transgender athletes would be “one of the biggest issues facing our country today.” However, according to research conducted by The Williams Institute at UCLA, only about 1.6 million individuals, or 0.6% of the population 13 and older, identify as transgender in the United States.

“I just implore people to actually look at the history of the trans community,” said Ursula. “It’s only recently that they have felt somewhat safer to be more out in the open. But these trans people have existed since the beginning of time.”

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will be voting on two proposals related to trans athletes competing.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.