‘Purely transphobic’: Teen athlete calls out provincially mandated form requiring confirmation of sex at birth

Critics say Alberta's fairness and safety in sports policy could have wider implications. CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg has the story.

Back to school is looking different for girls playing sports this year as they are being given a provincially mandated form requiring them to confirm their sex at birth.

Natalie Elzinga, a 14-year-old volleyball player, is calling the forms transphobic and unnecessary.

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She said she was pulled aside ahead of volleyball try-outs and told that she wouldn’t be able to get on the court if she didn’t sign the form.

“When I was told I’m going to have to sign that form, I was in disbelief, because, why should I?” Elzinga told CTV News Edmonton. “This is just purely transphobic and there is no need for it.”

The form that was given to Elzinga at her St. Albert school follows the province’s new Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which requires girls and the parents of those under 18 to confirm they were born female in order to play female-only competitive sports.

“I’m not trans, I’m not queer in any way shape or form. But I know that this is terrifying for people who are,” said Elzinga.

Elzinga’s mom, Leah, has been to numerous volleyball games and tournaments over the last decade between her two daughters.

“It is my whole social life right now. I’ve talked to hundreds, if not thousands, of parents. Never, not once, has this issue come up,” said Leah. “Nobody is worried about this. Nobody is worried about their girls playing with trans girls and getting hurt in unfair play.”

St. Albert Public Schools said the forms are being distributed and collected by coaches when students try out for a team. Forms will be kept at school offices and not given to the province.

Edmonton Public Schools said it will do the same while the city’s catholic schools use a digital form with access restricted to authorized administrators and office staff.

Under the province’s new rules, those wanting to participate in boys-only sports, don’t have to fill out the same forms that the girls do.

“They don’t care about trans athletes in sports. Otherwise they would care about all trans athletes in sport,” said Leah. “They care about girls specifically, and limiting what they can do.”

Elzinga said the forms can be contested, and is worried that the lack of guidelines will cause harm.

“There are no boundaries, and when there aren’t boundaries, they can be abused,” she said.

The press secretary for the Minister of Tourism and Sport said it is the responsibility of sport organizations to verify requirements are met and to maintain personal information while following privacy legislation.

The ministry said the act will make the sport safe, accessible and fair for all Albertans and that the province has no plans to implement similar legislation for boys at this time.

Elzinga ultimately handed-in the form, but not before crossing out the words “fairness” and “safety.”

“I know that there are so many people on the court in my class who are not able to talk, and I just want them to feel safe, feel protected, like a child should,” said Elzinga.