An Adelaide schoolgirl has shared her concerns after an 11-year-old transgender student, originally male, was permitted to access the girls’ toilets and participate in girls’ sports at her Catholic institution.
Ava said she was so outraged and uncomfortable about the situation that she launched a petition, signed by dozens of classmates, demanding action.
“Around a year ago, a child transitioned to female at our school, but the administration didn’t inform anyone – it was done quite discreetly,” shared Ava’s mother, Zoe.
‘Now we’re seeing a biological boy using the female toilets, and girls are feeling really unsafe and vulnerable in that space.
“Girls are missing out on sports opportunities where a biological boy is occupying their place. It’s really affecting these kids, especially the girls, leaving them feeling isolated and excluded.”
The situation has led female students to feel so uneasy that they avoid using the restrooms entirely and refrain from drinking water at school, even though they were given the option of using the disabled toilets to avoid sharing the girls’ facilities.
“We felt uncomfortable with a boy using our girls’ bathroom, so we started a petition,” Ava explained to activist and law professor Dr. Joanna Howe on The Dr Jo Show.
‘Some people didn’t want to write their names down because they didn’t want to get into trouble, but some did.
‘We got over 40 names and we gave it to the principal, but they did nothing about it.
‘Some of them aren’t even drinking water because they don’t want to share a bathroom with a boy.’
Ava spoke out about an 11-year-old biological boy being able to use the same school toilets after they identified as a girl
Ava’s mother Zoe is concerned that it will create a precedent for men to enter into women’s spaces
Zoe fears the case sets a dangerous precedent.
‘That’s the big picture I’m seeing,’ she said.
She also claimed that Ava’s meetings with the principal of the unnamed school about the concerns fell on deaf ears.
“Ava has approached the principal directly but hasn’t seen any results. Instead, I received a call labeling her behavior as inappropriate,” Zoe stated.
But the transgender child at the centre of the storm previously told The Advertiser the backlash had been crushing and that she had been bullied because of her transition.
‘Some kids have been kind, but some have been cruel. No one really ever says hello. It just creates this awkward situation where no one really wants to go near me. I never really want to go to school at the moment,’ the student, now identifying as Katie, said.
She also spoke about the joy of finally being able to compete as a woman in sporting events.
‘My favourite part of running is how it’s an event where you can try your hardest. I did feel very proud, and I felt happy that I won, being me.’
Activist and law professor Dr Joanna Howe described the situation as ‘insane’
Her mother insisted her daughter’s identity ‘wasn’t a choice.’
‘I know that if I didn’t allow her to have some authority over how she feels and who she is, then she wouldn’t be sitting here today,’ she said.
She argued that there was a misconception that Katie had an unfair advantage in school sports.
‘I completely understand the argument once children have gone through puberty, but this is a very different situation,’ she said.
Dr Howe called the situation ‘insane.’
‘When the little girls say that they’re upset about this or they’re feeling uncomfortable, they’re told that the problem is with them and that they need to use the disabled bathroom – even though they’re not disabled.
‘There’s a reason why we have segregated sports. You can’t have boys in girls’ sport.
‘Serena Williams, who’s arguably the greatest female player of all time, potentially the GOAT in tennis, once played the 200th ranked man on the men’s tour and lost 6-0 6-0.
The transgender child at the centre of the storm told The Advertiser the backlash had been crushing and that she had been bullied because of her transition.
‘It shows there’s a definite biological advantage men have in sport. Even at cross-country level, in all the pre-puberty races the boys are running faster than the girls.
‘The girls wouldn’t even place in the boys’ race. And after puberty, the gap only widens – boys actually run about a kilometre more, purely because of how they’re biologically built.’
Catholic Education South Australia said that the school followed the laws.
‘Catholic Education South Australia is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment for every student,’ a spokesperson told Daily Mail on Monday.
‘Our decisions follow professional medical advice, government policy and legislation while balancing the wellbeing of our students and perspectives of all involved.
‘It’s our priority to work closely with students and their families and we encourage any parents with concerns to speak with us so we can best support them.’
Department of Education policy states that ‘a gender-diverse child or young person should have access to facilities that match their gender identity.’
Meanwhile, Women’s Forum Australia has launched a fresh petition calling on Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian government to guarantee single-sex facilities, accommodation, and sports for girls.
‘Girls in South Australian schools are being forced to sacrifice their privacy, safety, and fairness,’ it reads.
‘Under current Department of Education policy, male students who identify as female can access girls’ toilets and changerooms, share overnight accommodation, and compete in female sporting events.
‘Already, girls have been told to use disabled toilets if they feel uncomfortable sharing bathrooms with boys, and a male student has broken multiple girls’ school sporting records. These examples show how the policy is already undermining girls’ rights and opportunities.’
The Australian Sports Commission says: ‘All Australians should have the opportunity to be involved in sport and physical activity, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or ethnicity.
‘It is important that sporting bodies, from local clubs through to national sporting organisations, reflect the diversity in the communities they are a part of, and that together, we ensure every person is treated with respect and dignity and protected from discrimination.’
