What do I really think about segregation in sports?

Recently, I took a stroll to a local park in my community, where there's a pickleball court with four playing courts. Observing the players, I noticed something striking: the teams were mixed, with an equal split of genders among the 16 players. Ages and genders spanned a broad spectrum. Curious, I asked one of the players if men and women compete together, and he casually affirmed, "Yeah, sure."

It's both ironic and amusing to me that in Wyoming, a place where we've battled for inclusion in activities like wrestling, boxing, softball (and heck, why not baseball?), and even joining the scouts, we're now contemplating the segregation of sports due to fear of competition. In our small, rural communities, where student numbers are dwindling partly because we struggle to provide families with adequate healthcare, every player is vital. Sometimes, you're lucky to scrape together nine players to form a team. Why impose segregation on our children in sports when we don't adhere to such practices as adults? They should learn about fair competition early on.

The issue of making accommodations for children's privacy in sports also astonishes me. Many of us, as teenagers or even middle schoolers, felt uncomfortable changing or showering in communal locker rooms. If we're discussing privacy accommodations, then let's genuinely aim to protect every child's privacy. This might mean remodeling facilities to ensure each child has adequate space for changing and showering in privacy, without the intrusive eyes of a PE teacher or any other adult. Every child deserves this level of respect and dignity, not just a select few. Let's halt the segregation in sports and other areas we've fought so hard to integrate.