The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled in a case involving a transgender athlete and USA Powerlifting, a sports organization. The court decided that USA Powerlifting discriminated against JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman, when it prevented her from competing in a women’s powerlifting competition in 2018.
Cooper filed a lawsuit against USA Powerlifting in 2021, claiming that the organization’s actions violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act. She argued that she was unfairly excluded from participating in the women’s division because she is transgender.
The Minnesota Supreme Court agreed with Cooper, stating that USA Powerlifting’s policy at the time was to automatically exclude transgender women from competing in the women’s division. The court found this policy to be discriminatory.
In the court’s opinion, Chief Justice Natalie Hudson wrote that USA Powerlifting’s policy was discriminatory on its face, meaning it was obviously discriminatory. The court concluded that there was no question that USA Powerlifting had discriminated against Cooper because of her transgender status.
However, the court also decided to send a part of the case back to a lower court. This lower court will need to determine whether USA Powerlifting had a valid reason for excluding Cooper. This is often referred to as a “legitimate business purpose.”
USA Powerlifting has defended its policy by arguing that allowing transgender women to compete in the women’s division would create an unfair advantage for them over other women. The organization argues that biological males have physical advantages over female-born athletes.
Larry Maile, the president of USA Powerlifting, explained that the organization’s goal is to create rules that ensure fair play for everyone, not to exclude anyone. He mentioned that USA Powerlifting created an open division in 2021 to include athletes of all gender identities, including transgender and nonbinary members. He also stated that the organization welcomes transgender referees in all competitions.
Attorneys representing USA Powerlifting described the court’s decision as a “partial victory for both sides.”
Some Minnesota Republicans have expressed their disapproval of the court’s ruling.
Lisa Demuth, the Minnesota Republican House Speaker, released a statement criticizing the decision. She stated that women and girls have fought for decades to gain rights under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and other educational programs. Demuth believes that the court’s decision is a setback in protecting girls’ sports.
Demuth also argued that the issue is about safety and fairness and that most Minnesotans believe that girls should not be forced to compete against boys. She announced that House Republicans plan to take action in the next legislative session to ensure that girls’ sports are reserved for girls.
The case has sparked a debate about fairness, inclusion, and the rights of transgender athletes in sports. Supporters of transgender inclusion argue that transgender athletes should have the same opportunities to participate in sports as anyone else. Those who oppose transgender inclusion in certain sports categories often cite concerns about fair competition and potential safety issues.
The lower court will now consider USA Powerlifting’s argument that it has a legitimate reason for excluding transgender women from the women’s division. The outcome of this part of the case could have significant implications for the future of transgender athletes in sports.
