Saturday, March 25, 2000
Sex bias in sports alleged
Suit accuses Boone schools
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Six Boone County parents filed a federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of their daughters Friday, claiming the girls are not getting the same athletic opportunities as boys attending Boone County Schools.
They say their daughters, who play softball, volleyball and basketball, are being discriminated against because of a difference in how the school district supports male and female athletic programs.
They say a gap can be seen in funding, team travel, equipment and supplies, quality of coaching, scheduling of games and practice times, provision of locker rooms and medical and training services and publicity.
For example, “Boone County Schools provides male athletes with newer equipment and supplies that are of better quality than those provided to female students. Boone County Schools also provides male athletes with better, more complete uniforms than those provided to female athletes,” said the lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court.
The suit alleges violations of Title IX, the federal law calling for equal academic and athletic opportunities for boys and girls, and the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
Patrick and Kimberlee Egan, Raleigh and Barbara Lawrence, and David and Lisa Gatewood filed the law suit against the school district and Superintendent Bryan Blavatt.
They promise to name other defendants and are seeking class-action certification for all present and future female students.
They also are seeking a trial, attorneys' fees, and for a federal judge to declare that the defendants have engaged in past and present discrimination. They want the judge to issue a permanent injunction restraining the district from discrimination on the basis of gender.
The parents could not be reached Friday for comment. But they mention their reasons for suing the school district in their lawsuit.
“Lyndsey (Gatewood) is a talented athlete who participates in basketball and softball,” the lawsuit said. “Her opportunities to participate in interscholastic and other school-sponsored athletics are not comparable to the opportunities afforded to boys who are similarly situated.
“In addition, she has endured the unequal treatment and benefits directed by Boone County Schools toward their female athletes.”
Superintendent Blavatt said the district has been trying to ease the parents' concerns for about three months. He doesn't believe the district has violated Title IX.
“My biggest concern is we made a concerted effort to provide equity and fairness,” he said. “It disturbs me when someone specifically looks at (what we've done) and has a problem with it.”
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