Father Banned From Camas Schools After Protesting Trans Athlete

Joel Retzlaff faces a one-year ban from Camas school district properties after a criminal trespass notice was served following his protest at a cross country meet in September. The ban stems from his actions during the Sept. 15 race, where he challenged the presence of Logan Mihailoff, a student at Camas High in Washington State who competes in girls' varsity events. Under rules set by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Mihailoff is permitted to compete in these categories, a policy that has drawn scrutiny from parents and athletes in the region.

The dispute began when Sierra Retzlaff and Charlie Garrett, cross country runners for Skyview High in Vancouver, learned they would race against Mihailoff. The two students walked off the starting line after painting "keep women in women's sports" on their bodies. Joel Retzlaff, Sierra's father, attended the meet with his wife and carried two signs. One sign read, "It will never be OK for a XY to steal an opportunity from a XX," while the other stated, "Please only XX competing with XX, XY competing with XY. Keep it fair."

Stephen Baranowski, the athletic director at Camas High, approached Retzlaff because the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association prohibits signage other than team banners. Although Retzlaff agreed to lower his signs while speaking with Baranowski, he later held one up and chanted "Keep boys out of girls sports!" as he walked back to his car after his daughter's race. According to school officials, Retzlaff then drove past the venue, honked his horn, and repeated the chant while a friend held signs out of the car window.

John Anzalone, superintendent of the Camas school district, stated that the trespass notice was issued for safety reasons rather than as a reaction to the message. Anzalone reported that Retzlaff drove through an area closed off by construction tape, which officials described as a barrier. Retzlaff acknowledged that the superintendent's perspective on safety is valid but said he has no regrets about standing up for girls in sports. He questioned why adults who distinguish between boys and girls are allowing the current situation to continue.

Mihailoff finished 76th in a junior varsity race on Sept. 5 and placed first in a varsity race against Union High School on Sept. 29. He also finished second among 195 girls in a Sept. 26 race in Portland. The competition has become a focal point for debate over biological sex in high school athletics. On Nov. 3, Washington voters will decide Initiative 638, which would ban biological boys from competing in K-12 girls' sports if passed.