THE QUESTION ABOUT PRIVACY

In Florida, all high school student-athletes are required to fill out a multi-page form about their medical history before they can participate in team activities. It’s called the EL-2 sports physical form. Markedly, privacy has always been a sensitive topic of discussion. But lately, the tone of the conversation has shifted drastically.

Earlier this week, Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) leadership  proposed a rule change that would force student-athletes to answers some pretty invasive questions about their menstrual cycle history. As political debates about women’s anatomy continue to seep into every level of sports, Florida’s strict anti-abortion laws have put some students in a dangerous place. According to advocates like Jenn Meale Poggie of the ‘Privacy. Period!’ campaign, a school official is given access to private information that could lead to humiliation, or even legal prosecution, is a violation.

On the other end of the debate, proponents of the rule change argue that protecting student-athletes starts by determining intimate details about them. Governor Ron DeSantis has spoken out repeatedly about regulating participation of transgender student-athletes in certain activities, among other issues.

A CHANGE OF DIRECTION

According to FHSAA sports medicine committee, they originally recommended the requirement based on national guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics. The new form will go into effect for the 2023-2024 school year and will be available starting this spring. Currently, all questions on the form about menstruation are optional.