A Siena College poll released in April of this year, shows that 66% of New York voters stated they support requiring that high school athletes only compete against others of the gender they were assigned at birth. That poll showed that 83% of Republicans and 77% of independent voters support the idea, even a slight majority of Democrats are in favor.

In an interview with Spectrum News, state Sen. George Borrello stated “We all know that New York is a liberal state so this tells you that this should not be a liberal, conservative or Democrat and Republican issue.” Borrello sponsors a bill that would create such a requirement for high school and collegiate athletics in New York State. That bill is also carried in the state Assembly by Assemblyman Andy Goodell.

Borrello went on to say that “it took decades to level the playing field for women in sports and particularly in high school and college, so this is a bill to protect women’s sports.”

In stark contrast to this common sense legislation, supported by most New Yorkers, is Democrat state Assembly candidate Michael Bobseine. In an April 24, 2023 commentary published in the OBSERVER, the candidate is highly critical of Borrello and Goodell for introducing legislation that would protect women’s sports.

Bobseine even goes so far as to suggest that our state legislators are bullies for not wanting to allow boys to compete in girls sports. “These legislators, like the harassing and abusive business owner, are willing to take away the humanity of children. They seek to treat children who may be struggling with gender identity in our binary society as less valued.”

In fact, our state legislators have never suggested that transgender students shouldn’t be allowed to play sports. Rather merely do so in a fair and safe manner. However, most hypocritically, the candidate is on record as wanting to abolish high school football because of the physical dangers and yet he would allow biological males to compete in sports against girls.

His opinion piece shows not only that he’s in favor of boys competing against girls but also, by extension, he supports the radical idea that boys should be able to use the girls locker room and bathroom, at will. Imagine our Fredonia High School Girls Softball team that went so far this season, having to share a locker room with boys. That’s the policy that Bobseine vocally supports.

He is all in on forcing a far-left political agenda, even when it impacts the safety of our children. His support is proof positive that he aligns himself with the most radical New York City-based ideology even when, overwhelmingly, the rest of our state rejects these policies.

Mr. Bobseine, it is you that is looking to take away our children’s dignity and humanity.

Melanie Mann is a Fredonia resident and chair of the Fredonia-Pomfret Republican Committee.