Around New England

New Hampshire Transgender State Champ Track Athlete Weighs In On Transgender Athlete Debate

April 23, 2024

Kearsarge Regional High girls’ track athlete Maelle Jacques, a male who identifies as transgender, recently weighed in on the transgender athlete debate.

Jacques, who won the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 state championship in the high jump this past winter, told The Concord Monitor that the athlete understands why people oppose males competing in girls’ sports.

“I’ve read enough of the articles to somewhat understand where some of the hate comes from,” Jacques told the paper. “I can understand professionally, regulations in sports, and I can comprehend the perspective. But, oftentimes, they don’t take the consideration to do the same and understand my perspective.”

Jacques also expressed openness to a compromise on the issue that would allow males to compete in girls’ sports, with various restrictions, including testosterone suppression. 

“As much as I realize for myself and a lot of the community it’s not the greatest scenario, it’s better than an outright ban in my eyes,” Jacques told the paper. “I wish people would understand that we’re just kids who want to play and have fun and be in a community. It’s not a malicious thing that we’re doing.”

Jacques, 16, started identifying as a girl at 11 years old, according to the report.

Jacques’s comments come as both the New Hampshire House and Senate have passed bills that would bar males from competing in girls’ sports in kindergarten through grade 12.
 

New to NewBostonPost? Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. But you’ve found it. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks — $2 for two months. And join the real revolution.


Read More