Letter: Don't Deny Trans Youth Access to Sports

To the Editor:

Last night [Thursday], I attended the Berkshire Transgender Rights Town Hall at Pittsfield's Unitarian Universalist Church. And I am so grateful that I did.

In a room packed with members of the local trans community, allies and Massachusetts state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, trans neighbors from across the county shared heartbreaking, powerful, profound, inspiring and eye-opening personal testimonials about their childhood struggles; battles to survive cruelty, abuse, depression; and in several cases, the very real and transformative power of participating in sports as young people.

In April of this year Massachusetts passed a budget bill that included a transgender sports ban, which, if it becomes law, will limit trans youth to participating only on teams that align with their biological sex. Transphobic media would have us believe that allowing trans kids to participate will create a lack of fairness in school sports, but there is no scientific evidence to prove this. Athletic abilities vary greatly from person to person, and there are many misconceptions about testosterone levels and their impact on performance. (Visit genderjustice.us for more information.)

What would be truly unfair is to deny any young person the opportunity to participate fully in school life. Athletics provide an important place of social connection and belonging. They support physical, mental and emotional health and often lead to greater academic success. In addition, allowing cisgender and trans kids to interact in this way provides a crucial opportunity for increased understanding, acceptance and respect.

Trans people are in the crosshairs in countless ways right now. Fueled by well-funded and vicious propaganda meant to create a political wedge by sowing fear and division, this administration is working hard — and succeeding — in threatening their rights, safety, livelihood and very existence. The goal seems to be to obliterate them entirely, to make them unwelcome in our society, and to render them invisible.

Jurian Hughes
Pittsfield, Mass.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.