A teenage girl in Utah is under police protection after facing threats. According to reports, a state school board member raised questions about her gender on social media. Hence, she elicited a condemnation from the state’s top government officials.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, Natalie Cline, a Utah State Board of Education member since 2020, posted a photo of the high school basketball player. Cline falsely implied the student is transgender, writing, “Girls’ basketball.”
Following the Facebook post, Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson condemned Cline in a joint statement. In addition, they urged the state’s board of education to hold her accountable. They also praised the Granite School District “for taking swift action to protect this student’s safety and well-being.”
“We were stunned to learn of the unconscionable behavior of board member Cline,” the statement reads. “And others toward a high school student today.” The statement continues, “The last thing our children need is an elected official harassing them on social media.”
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Following the joint statement, the Utah State Board of Education also released a statement in a news release. The board noted that it can vote on actions to reprimand or censure a member. However, it does not have the power or authority to unseat them.
The board said it is “very concerned” about Cline’s post and “the harm it has caused to students in Utah.” “We are deeply saddened by the events that may have taken place,” the statement read. “And will be taking prompt action regarding this matter as determined by the full Board.”
The parents of the high school girl are urging Cline to resign from the school board. They claim their daughter is a tomboy with short hair, baggy clothing, and muscles from the gym. “To look at someone’s outer appearance and assume that they’re either playing in the right arena or not, based on how they look, is inappropriate,” the girl’s mother said.
“It just broke our hearts that we needed to have this conversation with our daughter.” Furthermore, the girl’s father said the cyberbullying targeted at his daughter due to Cline’s post could have led to suicide.
“What if our daughter didn’t have that strong character and have our support,” he asked. Following the outrage and backlash, the school district issued a statement. Granite School District said in its statement that it has “significant concerns with the apparent intent” of Cline’s post.
Also, the school district said it is “working to ensure the safety and well-being of this student.” Afterward, Cline issued a public apology in a Facebook post with the header, “Constitutionally Protected Speech.”
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She pointed to her right to free speech while issuing the apology. She wrote, “My deepest apologies for the negative attention my post drew to innocent students and their families.” In the post, Cline says she removed her original post to protect the player after multiple parents raised concerns.
In addition, the board never asserted she “never claimed the student was a boy.” “She does have a larger build, like her parents,” Cline said of the high school girl. Cline added that the times call for double-checking to see “if people are what they say they are.”
Cline’s statements come after a record-breaking year for anti-LGBTQ legislation and the enactment of laws targeting transgender people. In 2022, the Utah legislature banned transgender girls from competing in high school sports. Cox, who said it targeted a marginalized group with a high suicide rate, vetoed the bill.
However, in March 2022, GOP lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto. The law prompted a series of lawsuits filed by the parents of transgenders. They asked the court to declare the ban unconstitutional and block its enforcement. Therefore, in August 2022, a Utah judge granted a preliminary injunction.
However, the injunction allows transgender girls to compete on girls’ teams “only when it’s fair.”
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