Trans tennis coach Sasha Yates, who changed near female students in locker room and asked them about underwear and menstruation, is REHIRED at Gettysburg Area High School

A transgender high school tennis coach has been rehired after a controversy in the girls’ locker room.

The board of directors of the Gettysburg Area School District in Pennsylvania voted 6-2 on September 5 to renew the contract of tennis coach Sasha Yates.

Yates’ employment came under scrutiny following an incident in the fall of 2022 when the coach was changing clothes in the girls’ locker room, reports PennLive.

Gettysburg Area High School principal Jeremy Lusk sent a letter to Yates about concerns raised with the administration about professional boundaries.

Sources familiar with the matter say Yates did change in the locker room, but only took off her top and did not undress completely.

After postponing the vote from August, nearly 40 community members spoke at the Gettysburg Area School District meeting on Sept. 5 before voting to renew the coach’s contract.

Sasha Yates has coached both girls and boys tennis at Gettysburg Area High School since 2018

The letter also claims Yates asked students about menstrual cycles and preferred underwear, which she denies.

Nearly 40 parents, students and community members spoke about the issue during the school board meeting.

Molly Heaton, a member of the girls tennis team, said of the coach: “As someone who has been coached by her, it is clear to me that this issue is not so much an issue of her character as it is an attack on her. her identity.’

Tristian Smith, a senior in high school and team captain of the boys tennis team, said he coached the girls team in the coach’s absence.

“The disgusting claims I have heard about my coach are not true. “I cannot stand here and refuse to acknowledge that blatant transphobia is the primary motivation behind this motion,” Smith said.

“I’m sure I speak for all the players when I say that coach Sasha not only respects all of our personal boundaries, but more than anyone I know, she accommodates and advocates for us as players as human beings.”

Others spoke out against extending Yates’ contract.

“I don’t want a man dressed as a woman to come into my daughters’ or granddaughter’s dressing room and traumatize them,” said Ronald, who did not give his last name.

David Jenkins wanted the board to vote no and focus on other policies, saying, “I urge you to create a policy regarding bathroom and locker room use.”

A vote was originally scheduled for August 21, but was postponed to allow more time for the matter.

Yates (left) was back on the field after being reinstated as head coach. The girls tennis team started the season without a coach while the board decided on the contract

Many students spoke out in support of Yates (pictured above) and took shots at Gettysburg Area School District board member Michelle Smyers for alleged anti-LGBTQ comments

Attention to the issue increased when board member Michelle Smyers, the local chapter president of Moms for Liberty, got the right-wing law firm America First Legal to send a letter to the district requesting records of Yates.

When the motion to renew her contract was passed, the audience burst into applause and gave a standing ovation.

Gettysburg Area School District is a public school district with three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

DailyMail.com has contacted Yates, the Gettysburg Area School District, Lusk and athletic director Casey Thurston for comment.