West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey addressed allegations of harassment against a transgender athlete who is challenging the state’s law regarding sports participation. The law aims to restrict biological males from participating in girls’ sports. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to review the case.
At a press conference, McCuskey stated that any form of harassment against children is unacceptable. While noting that the allegations are not central to the legal case, he emphasized the importance of protecting children from harassment in all settings, especially in athletics.
The allegations against the transgender athlete stem from claims made by Adaleia Cross, a former teammate at Bridgeport Middle School. Cross’s mother alleges that the transgender athlete made inappropriate and graphic comments to her daughter and other girls in the locker room during the 2022-2023 school year. At the time, Cross was in eighth grade, and the transgender athlete was in seventh grade.
Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who are representing the transgender athlete, have denied the allegations. In a statement, the ACLU asserted that their client and her mother deny the claims and that a school district investigation found them to be unsubstantiated. The ACLU reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of all students under Title IX, including the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing the Cross family, responded to the ACLU’s statement. The ADF stated that their client has testified under oath about the alleged events. They said that as a result of the situation, Cross withdrew from the sport and sacrificed a part of her school experience to protect herself.
The transgender athlete also denied the allegations in a statement to The New York Times. The athlete stated that they “were not raised like that.”
The New York Times reported that the Harrison County School District stated that an investigation determined Cross’s allegations “could not be substantiated.”
The Cross family contends that after reporting the alleged harassment to the school, no disciplinary action was taken against the transgender athlete. Adaleia Cross stated that she was told a full investigation would be conducted, but that the family received no further updates or information about the outcome.
Her father, Holden Cross, confirmed that they received no response from the school after filing the report.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines spoke at the press conference, recounting Adaleia’s testimony and describing the experience as “traumatic” for Cross. Gaines emphasized the concern for middle school girls facing such situations and the potential impact of the alleged comments.
Several attorneys general and women’s athlete activists gathered to support the “Save Women’s Sports” legal defense. The Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments in cases concerning the participation of transgender athletes in girls’ sports, including the West Virginia case and a separate case in Idaho.
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador criticized the transgender athlete in his state’s case for attempting to dismiss the case after the Supreme Court agreed to review it. Labrador argued that the timing of the dismissal attempt was unfair.
Gymnast MyKayla Skinner spoke about her passion for “saving women’s sports.” She stated that women’s sports exist because of biological differences between men and women.
Former NCAA volleyball player Macy Petty shared her experience of competing against a transgender athlete during her college career. She described the situation as humiliating and said that it jeopardized her opportunity to play.
Former gymnast Jennifer Sey expressed concern that girls might stop competing if they believe that the competition is unfair.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita called for empathy for transgender athletes, recounting a 2022 case where his state was sued for enacting a law restricting girls’ sports to biological females. Rokita said that the 10-year-old plaintiff in that case needed “love and therapy.”
