John Parks, a high school track coach in Oregon who sued his former school district for alleged First Amendment violations, explained why he believed a separate division for transgender athletes was necessary.
Parks was fired from Lake Oswego High School after sending a letter to state officials and asking them to reconsider state rules regarding transgender athletes. Parks expressed concerns about laws that offer protection to athletes seeking to compete against the gender they personally identify with. She told Fox News Digital that she filed the lawsuit because she felt she did nothing wrong.
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John Parks, former Oregon high school track coach (kickoff)
On Monday, Parks appeared on “OutKick The Morning” with Charly Arnolt and explained why she believes there should be a separate division for transgender athletes. She recalled that a transgender girl was booed by fans after winning a race. She also mentioned the physical advantages.
“By having a separate division, it empowers more transgender athletes to feel comfortable coming out, because right now, I think a lot of them would think, 'Well, I don't want to do it at a disadvantage, because I have a physical advantage. ' That's been proven by the scientific studies done by the IOC and other international sports federations like World Athletes, World Aquatics, etc.,” Parks said.
“These policies have been put in place and the concern at the high school level is that not all kids develop at the same age. Well, we still have separate divisions for a reason and transgender athletes are fully aware that if they've gone through puberty they have an advantage. They have higher levels of testosterone and that's where they have this advantage that they can't undo,” he continued.
“Those are the things I mentioned because that's what needs to be addressed, so that children are applauded and celebrated for their achievements and not booed; that's not what sport is about.”
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John Parks was a girls track coach at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. (Fox News)
Parks previously told KATU that she had sent two letters to a high-ranking official at the Oregon Student Activities Association. She also sent letters to state Sen. Rob Wagner, including one last month after Oregon’s state championships. In the letters, Parks said the state’s laws, as currently written, hurt women’s sports.
Parks appeared to be referring to the International Olympic Committee's hormone testing requirements. Hormone testing requirements vary among different sports leagues, committees and organizations.
“OSAA competition rules should be in line with those applied around the world,” Parks wrote in the letter to Wagner. “My proposal to encourage transgender participation is to offer an open division bearing that name so that it does not identify or discriminate, but provides an opportunity to participate.”
Parks told Arnolt he was still a little shocked by the school district's decision to fire him.
“I still don't understand why they went that route,” she said. “It's damaged the reputation of the leaders who made that decision. … Hundreds of parents have come up to me and said, 'We support you, we're fighting for you, get defensive in the district.' All kinds of comments.”
People wave a Transgender Pride flag as they attend the Los Angeles Pride Parade on June 11, 2023, in Hollywood, California. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is because of the coaches at Lake Oswego, who still support me 100% and the more they have heard, the angrier they have become with the decision that was made. Therefore, the school is divided.”
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The Liberty Justice Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of Parks.
Fox News' Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
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