Canadian girl, 9, verbally attacked, accused of being transgender at track meet
A 9-year-old Canadian girl was verbally attacked and accused of being transgender at a school track and field event last week.
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What kind of accusations were made towards the girl?
Heidi Star's young daughter was left "visibly shaking and sobbing" after the grandfather of another student interrupted a shot put event by yelling at her and accusing her of being transgender during the track and field meet for elementary students held at Kelowna's Apple Bowl.
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Where did the accusations occur?
"She was standing in line and all of a sudden, this man comes out of the crowd. He stops the entire event and says 'This is a girl's event, why are boys allowed to throw,'" Star told The Post on Tuesday.
The man began pointing at Star's daughter, a cisgender 9-year-old girl, loudly proclaiming, "But there are boys playing. Why are boys allowed to throw."
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Why did the man make the accusations towards the girl?
From the stands, Star shouted back that her daughter, who has a short, pixie-style haircut, is in fact, a girl.
Heidi, Kari and their daughter at a Pride event. Provided by Heidi Starr
"He replied, she's a girl, using air quotes," Star recalled, adding that the man was also yelling and pointing at another girl who also had a short haircut.
"If she's not a boy, she is obviously trans," he said, according to Star.
The man's wife eventually chimed in, accusing the parents of being "genital mutilators, groomers and pedophiles."
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Who was involved in the accusations?
Heidi Star's young daughter was left "visibly shaking and sobbing" after the grandfather of another student began yelling at her. Castanet News
They then demanded Star provide certification to prove that her daughter was born female.
Thursday's incident left Star's daughter, who she is not publicly naming, "visibly shaking and sobbing." The horrifying situation was first reported by local news outlet Castanet.
Star says her daughter has been shielded from such outright hatred toward the LGBTQ+ community as she was raised by two lesbian mothers and knows many LBGTQ+ people, including transgender people.
"And she's cis-gendered. There's no reason that she would be the target of anti-trans hate," Star said.
The man then accused the parents of being "genital mutilators, groomers and pedophiles." Castanet News
The fired-up mother said she hopes the situation helps people see "how awful and how extreme" the anti-trans rhetoric has become and that it empowers people to "not be silent when they see anti-queer and anti-trans actions" and will stand up against it.
"This is proof that this has nothing to do with protecting children," Star added.
While the situation was traumatizing, Star says her daughter has received an outpouring of love from the community as a result.
The school district said it's taking the necessary action to ban the man from the district property and events. Castanet News
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What kind of legal action can be taken against transphobic harassment in schools?
The young athlete told her mother she had one thing to share with the world: "I want them to know that I probably would have placed if that man hadn't yelled at me."
Kevin Kaardal, the Superintendent and CEO of Central Okanagan Public Schools, said in a statement provided to The Post that necessary actions were being taken to ban the man from any district property or events.
"Staff at the event responded and intervened at the time, eventually moving the event across the field," Kaardal said.
"The entire school community that surrounds the student has shown tremendous allyship and concern for their wellbeing following the incident and we will continue to check in and ensure supports are available to anyone affected by the incident."
Kelowna RCMP confirmed to The Post that Star filed a report with the agency and they're "actively investigating these allegations."