Utah teen under police protection after state official questions her gender

[Jessica_Rose]

Utah teen under police protection after state official questions her gender

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/utah-teen-under-police-protection-after-state-official-questions-her-gender/ar-BB1hZreg?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=7936ef41b46b4605b88ea06682d717ad&ei=29

Story by Erin Alberty (8 Feb 2024)

Utah state school board member Natalie Cline is under fire after posting photos of a high school basketball player, questioning her gender and prompting threats against the girl.

Why it matters: Anti-transgender fervor is escalating in Utah, where lawmakers have passed laws restricting sports participation, health care and, most recently, bathroom access.

Driving the news: Cline, an elected member of the Utah State School Board, posted the photos Tuesday on Facebook, inciting a dogpile of comments identifying the girl, criticizing her appearance.

The girl is now under police protection, the Salt Lake Tribune reports, as Granite School District ramps up security at her school.

What they're saying: "To look at someone's outer appearance and make an assumption ... based on the way someone looks I don't think is appropriate," the 16-year-old's mother said.

The latest: Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson issued a joint rebuke late Wednesday, urging the Utah State Board of Education to "hold her accountable."