DUANE SHERRILL Editor

The city of Tullahoma has passed an ordinance aimed at protecting gender-based athletics, keeping boys from playing in girls’ sports.

The rule not only extends to local sports but to any entity that rents a field or gym from the city.

“This has never been a rule for Tullahoma. This is new,” said City Attorney Brittany Hoskins of the wording, noting the rule will be included in future agreements with outside entities who rent city fields for tournaments. The ordinance will not impact co-ed or open gender sports.

Aldermen Busch Thoma made his stance clear on the new ordinance. “I have three granddaughters and I’m absolutely opposed to them competing against a male, no matter what the thinking is,” Thoma said while wondering aloud if the city is going to be a Guinea pig when it comes to cities passing gender-rules for sports. “Are we using a sledge hammer instead of a tack hammer to address this?”

Outgoing alderman Kurt Glick clarified that the rule impacts city property, not private property. “We may not have had any problems in the past but we are trying to be proactive,” he said. “We need to begin protecting our young ladies right now.”

Outgoing alderman Bobbie Wilson said she supports the ordinance for both fairness and safety. “The city offers divisions for males and females and I believe the divisions should have clear and consistent eligibility standards based on biological sex,” she said. “

The ordinance passed unanimously.