Let Thalia Play

Any student at West Carroll Junior/Senior High School who wants to join the football team is allowed to play — unless that student is a girl.

Thalia Townsend, a talented athlete since preschool, has excelled for two years playing left tackle in a community football league. She not only loves the game, she quickly became one of the most valuable players on her team, proving herself a physical match against male opponents.

Thalia, a rising seventh grader, recently went with her community league teammates to the initial meeting for her school team, expecting to be fitted for her uniform and learn about the upcoming season from her new coach. Every boy there was allowed to join the team. But Thalia found herself the lone person turned away from the meeting, told by the coach that girls are not allowed to play football at her school.

Offering a sport at a school but only allowing boys to play it violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

ACLU-TN sent a letter to the West Carroll school board urging them to give Thalia an equal opportunity to play the sport she loves.

You can help: Tell the West Carroll Special School District to let Thalia play.

West Carroll Special School District Board Members:

Athletic participation is as important to girls as it is to boys.

Under the Fourteenth Amendment, schools cannot exclude girls from the sport of their choice while allowing boys to play.

Thalia Townsend has the same right as her male peers to further her athletic education by choosing the sport that most appeals to her abilities and interest.

We urge you to let Thalia Townsend play on the West Carroll Junior/Senior High football team.