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A ‘direct assault’ against ‘those who identify as transgender women,’ he said

A judge has allowed a New Hampshire school district to ban parents from engaging in a silent protest against males playing on girls’ sports teams via the wearing of “XX” wristbands.

The ruling confirms Bow School District Superintendent Marcy Kelley’s contention that such protests are “demeaning,” and constitute “harassment” and “intimidation” towards a boy playing on a rival school’s girls’ soccer team.

According to NH Journal, U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe, a George H.W. Bush appointee (and widower of Christa McAuliffe, the teacher killed in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster), said while the parents “acted within their First Amendment rights to protest,” school sports events “are considered ‘limited public forums’ and school officials acted within their legal authority to restrict what the parents said and did.”

“The question then becomes whether the School District can manage its athletic events and its athletic fields and facilities […] the answer is straightforward: Of course it can,” McAuliffe wrote.

McAuliffe noted that in the context of the soccer game, “the message generally ascribed to the XX symbol […] can reasonably be understood as directly assaulting those who identify as transgender women.”

“[G]ender identities are characteristics of personal identity that are ‘unalterable or otherwise deeply rooted,’ McAuliffe wrote, “the demeaning of which ‘strikes a person at the core of his being.’” Bow officials thus “reasonably interpreted” the parents’ wristbands to be “conveying a demeaning and harassing message.”

MORE: U. Chicago survey: Two-thirds of U.S. adults oppose transgender females in women’s sports

One of the parents involved in the complaint, Anthony Foote, asked “What was our offense? Supporting girls’ sports and defending biological reality?”

Foote noted McAuliffe “openly admitted” that Pride flags hanging in Bow District classrooms are OK as they “promote inclusion,” but “XX” wristbands “might ‘offend’ someone.”

Foote previously said he has “no issue” with the transgender athlete in question other than his participation in girls’ athletic competitions. He said he’ll continue to fight to protect girls’ sports.

Del Kolde of the Institute for Free Speech, which represents the parents, said “We strongly disagree with the Court’s opinion issued today denying our request for a preliminary injunction. This was adult speech in a limited public forum, which enjoys greater First Amendment protection than student speech in the classroom.”

Other critics of McAuliffe’s ruling noted his claim that gender identity is “inalterable” has no basis in “biological fact or in law,” according to the report.

MORE: HS track coach fired for proposing ‘open’ division for transgenders sues district

IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: Parent shows “XX” wristband to protest boys playing on girls’ sports teams; Libs of TikTok/X

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