Three Oregon high school students have filed a federal lawsuit pushing for the exclusion of transgender athletes from future girls’ sports events, as well as the removal of their past records. They argue that transgender girls possess unfair physiological advantages over cisgender girls, creating a discriminatory environment.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon, accuses three school districts and state entities of violating Title IX, a federal civil rights law. It claims that allowing trans girls, referred to as “biological males” in the suit, to compete with cisgender girls has led to the elimination of equal opportunities for female athletes in track and field events.
The lawsuit, brought by the America First Policy Institute, founded by former Trump administration officials, argues that permitting biological males to participate in girls’ sports disregards the physiological advantages that men have over women. It undermines the purpose of sex-segregated competition, which is meant to provide equal opportunities for females.
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The lawsuit highlights a trans athlete in Portland, Oregon, known as A.G., who has excelled in spring track events, setting season records. Another trans athlete, identified as L.R., has become a standout in the girls’ high jump after struggling to qualify or achieve high rankings while competing against males.
The suit points out that there have been no reports of cisgender boys being outperformed by trans boys in school sports, emphasizing the physiological advantages that males have over females in athletic competition.
The lawsuit demands that Oregon remove trans girls’ athletic records, victories, and qualifications achieved in girls’ sports, and instead credit the cisgender girls who lost to them.
The debate around Title IX protections for trans athletes has been intensifying, with many states implementing their own regulations on whether to allow or deny trans students’ participation.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who opposes legislation banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports, is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The Trump administration has taken a strong stance against allowing trans girls to compete in girls’ sports, citing concerns about fairness and safety for women and girls.
The Supreme Court has announced that it will review a case this fall regarding state restrictions on transgender students’ participation in school sports teams.
