CNN’s Emma Tucker
A young woman in Utah was threatened after a state school board member appeared to post questions about her sex on social media, prompting the country’s top government officials to condemn her.
Natalie Cline, a part of the Utah State Board of Education since 2020, falsely claimed the high school basketball player is transgender on Tuesday in an old Facebook post, writing: “Ladies’ basketball!”
Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson criticized Cline for her social media posts in a joint declaration on Wednesday. They pleaded with her to answer to the country’s education board. Additionally, they praised Granite School District “for taking swift action to protect this child’s safety and well-being.”
The declaration reads, “We were shocked to learn of the despicable behavior of board member Cline and others toward a high school student today.” “An elected national targeting our kids on social media is the absolute last thing they need.”
Following the joint statement, the Utah State Board of Education stated in a media release on Thursday that while it has the power to vote on actions to censure or rebuke members, it does not have the power to dislodge them.
The authority of the board is “very concerned” about Cline’s position and “the damage it has done to Utah students and families.” “We are extremely saddened by any potential actions that may have occurred, and we will act swiftly to address this issue as decided by the entire Board.”
According to CNN affiliate KSL, the high school girl’s parents are pressuring Cline to resign from the board of trustees because their daughter is a tomboy with short hair, big clothing, and gym-work-related muscles.
According to the girl’s mother, it is inappropriate to judge someone by their outward appearance and assume that they are neither playing in the right arena or not based solely on how they appear. “The fact that we needed to have this conversation with our child merely broke our hearts.”
According to the woman’s father, the “worst case scenario” from the cyberbullying that was directed at his daughter as a result of the post could have caused her to commit suicide.
“What if our daughter didn’t internalize this with such a strong character and our and the community’s support?” He remarked.
In a statement to KSL, Granite School District stated that it is “working to ensure the safety and well-being of this student” and has “major concerns with the obvious intent” of Cline’s position.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Cline publicly apologized for the bad attention her post drew to innocent students and their families while pointing to her right to free speech.
After several families expressed concern, Cline claims she removed her original post to protect the person and that she “never claimed the student was a boy” in the blog, which has the folder “Constitutionally Protected Speech.”
Cline remarked of the high school student, “She does have a larger build, like her families.” “Because of the effort to restore transgenderism in our society, it is common to delay and wonder if people really are what they claim to be.”
Following a record-breaking season for anti-LGBT policy and the passage of new regulations aimed at transgender individuals, including bans on hormone therapy and medical procedures for children seeking gender-affirming care and those who use public restrooms that are in line with their gender identity, Cline’s statements are timely.
The Utah government outlawed transgender girls from participating in high school sports in 2022. Cox overrode the governor’s veto in March of that year, claiming that the bill targeted a vulnerable group that was at high risk of suicide. As a result, the families of three transgender teenagers sued, asking the court to declare the ban unconstitutional and prevent its implementation.
Judge Keith A. Kelly of the Third Judicial District Court for Salt Lake County issued a preliminary injunction in August 2022 allowing transgender women to compete on female teams “only when it is fair, as privately determined by state-created commission.”
Cline was reprimanded by the school board in 2021.
The event was “not the first time that board part Cline has embarrassed the state of Utah and the State Board of Education,” according to Cox and Henderson’s joint statement.
The board reprimanded Cline in August 2021 after she posted a picture of the pride flag flying at koots next to Layton High School and said, “The world is too much with us,” according to CNN affiliate KSTU.
The letter, which was obtained by KSTU, states that “since taking the oath of office as a member of the Board about eight months ago, you have caused controversy, resentment, and frustration with statements you’ve posted on social media about our LGBTQIA+ community.”
According to a news release, the board concluded an investigation into complaints about Cline’s comments on social media in July 2023, absolving her of any wrongdoing.
The board’s administration reportedly informed Cline in an email after the findings were
made public that they still “determined there to be significance to the concerns,” according to her response on social media.
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