From the editor: Sonoma County trans student-athlete’s story is not ours to tell

Richard A. Green is executive editor of The Press Democrat and chief content officer for Sonoma Media Investments.

Since arriving here at The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) in February 2021, I’ve worked hard to be transparent with our readers — sharing details about how we report our in-depth stories, introducing you to the staffers behind our bylines and, most important, explaining why we choose to cover some stories and not others.

I know that our words and actions as journalists have consequences and can echo across Sonoma County, if not the whole North Bay and beyond. You should expect, I believe, that level of accountability from your hometown news organization.

Today, let me tell you about a Sonoma County transgender teenager who is competing as a girl on her high school team.

For the past 18 months or so, The Press Democrat has been aware of her participation. We consciously decided not to pursue her story as a transgender student-athlete.

Why? Put simply, it’s not ours to tell.

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