Buckeye Reporter

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) hosted a summit focused on diversity, equity and inclusion earlier this month.

The move came as several states prepared bans on transgender participants in girls' sports after the University of Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas, who was born a boy, won the NCAA Women’s Championship in the 500-yard freestyle event.  

"The OHSAA Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging invites you to join us for the inaugural diversity summit, Better Together: A Summit on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging," OHSAA said in an announcement. "The summit is free and will present a variety of sessions throughout the day about how athletic directors, coaches and other school personnel can create environments where ALL student-athletes feel honored, supported and accepted. We have received speaking commitments from a wide variety of experts that reflect recommended practices, strategies and innovation within the management, coaching, officiating and administration of high school athletics."

Ohio GOP candidate for governor, Jim Renacci, spoke out against the program ahead of time. 

"Whether these radical left activists are demanding biological men compete in women's sports or indoctrinating athletic faculty with their critical race theory-inspired DEI agenda, women’s sports are under attack," Renacci said in a statement.

The conference held at Quest Conference Center in Columbus featured sessions including "Why 'Indian' Mascots Inhibit Welcoming Environments for All Together," "Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth" and "Legal Landscape of LGBTO-Equality in Ohio."

The keynote speaker was Melissa Crum. She is a frequent lecturer of white supremacy, according to Crum's Twitter account.

Crum is an outspoken advocate for requiring students to read graphically pornographic novels in public schools, according to Parents Defending Education. In February, she defended teachers assigning "All Boys aren't Blue," which depicts homosexual sex between teenagers. 

"Many conservative activists are contradicting themselves," Crum said on medium.com. "On one hand there is a push for 'free speech' and 'honest' education. But there is also a demand for silencing authors and removing information from our schools and universities through local and state government systems."