Wicomico Co. Executive calls for work session with Board of Education to discuss SB381

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Wicomico County executive, Julie Giordano is calling for a conversation on a divisive topic.

Monday, Giordano sent a letter to the Wicomico County Board of Education,
asking for an open discussion with officials on, “Protecting girls sports”.

This comes amid stirred controversy surrounding SB381, which would ban transgender student athletes from competing in girls’ sports.

Giordano said she’s looking for a dialogue between supporters and opponents of the legislation, on a local level.

“I think a lot of people have asked, is this even a problem, is this an issue? My answer to that is, when you’re labeling something as a potential problem or issue, why would we not be proactive and have that conversation? Rather than a reactive conversation after something comes up,” said Giordano.

The board of education has yet to responded to Giordano’s request, but Trans advocate, Kathy Carpenter Brown warned, the discussion could potentially create a barrier for trans athletes looking to compete on local school teams.

“The nature of athletes is to compete to the best of their ability, and what she is saying, what this bill is doing, it is restricting the opportunity of some athletes in favor of others,” said Carpenter Brown. “Nobody wants to harm women athletes, and that’s not what’s going on, that never happened.”