I'm sure you have by now heard about the Lila Perry situation in Hillbsoro, MO.

How different could that have been?

Let's take a look at the other side of the state. Landon Patterson is a senior at Oak Park High School in the Kansas City area.

She participates in the school’s choral program, student government and leadership program. She has a part-time job in a beauty supply store. She is a volleyball player and a cheerleader. She is a nominee for homecoming queen at Oak Park High School.

The photo on the left below was Landon as a freshman. The one on the right is as a senior.

My school was on my side. All the administrators vouched for me. KCAVP (Kansas City Anti-Violence Project) advocated for me as well. People in the stands before (Patterson started cheering as a girl) were like, 'Why aren’t you in the girls’ uniform?'

--Landon

Despite the support that she has found in her community for her athletic endeavors as a transgender girl, Patterson is still aware of the difficulties that exist for trans people in athletics.

I think it’s difficult for us to be able to play. There are so many barriers. There are rules about how long you have to be on hormones and procedures that you have to have undergone. There are so many different opinions about what you need to be able to play

--Landon Patterson

Patterson went on to say that one of the reasons why she plays club volleyball instead of representing Oak Park on the volleyball court is a MSHSAA rule about transgender student-athletes.

I was getting ready to try out for the volleyball team and the rule said you had to be on hormones for a year. At that point, it would have only been five months for me. So we would have had to fight that and it was just stupid. It (the hormone therapy) takes a toll on your body instantly. They said I would be stronger. There are (natal female) girls on the team who are a lot stronger than me. In the end, I chose not to do it because it would have conflicted too much with cheerleading.

--Landon

My life is cheer. Being an athlete has put me in a group of other athletes. It gave me a second family. Being an athlete has pushed me to be a leader. It’s helped me push myself, kept me in shape, made me stronger and given me an outlet.

--Landon

So how did it turn out yesterday?