The families of three female high school runners filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from participating in girls sports.
Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury High School, Chelsea Mitchell, a senior at Canton High School, and Alanna Smith, a sophomore at Danbury High School are represented by the conservative nonprofit organization Alliance Defending Freedom.
They argue that allowing boys who identify as female to compete has deprived them of track titles and scholarship opportunities.
“Mentally and physically, we know the outcome before the race even starts,” said Smith, who is the daughter of former Major League Baseball pitcher Lee Smith. “That biological unfairness doesn’t go away because of what someone believes about gender identity. All girls deserve the chance to compete on a level playing field.”
The lawsuit was filed against the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and the boards of education in Bloomfield, Cromwell, Glastonbury, Canton and Danbury.
Murder suspect arrested over 40 times before allegedly killing hotel guest
Texas mounted patrol caught on camera capturing illegal immigrant hiding in ranch brush near southern border
Watch: Walmart CEO Crushes George Stephanopoulos’ Desperate Attempt to Push Anti-Trump Narratives
Trump ‘not interested’ in de-escalation with ‘unhinged’ leader of Colombia, White House says
Mayor Eric Adams endorses Andrew Cuomo as his successor as Zohran Mamdani maintains lead in NYC race
Alert: Missionary Kidnapped in Niger, Believed to Be Headed for Area Where ISIS, al-Qaida Are Active
Trump calls off federal deployment to San Francisco after call with ‘friends’ and mayor
Pope prays with British monarch for first time since English Reformation, Charles gets papal seat of honor
Video: Trump Predicts $2 Gas ‘Very Soon,’ Says May Even Go Lower
Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, resurrected amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t end shutdown, Trump official warns
NBA stars, coach among 31 arrested in FBI sports betting crackdown: ‘The fraud is mind boggling’
Watch: JD Vance Defends His Wife from ‘Disgraceful’ Comments Made by Jen Psaki
Largest teachers union teams up with ‘60s radical professor’s namesake org peddling anti-American curriculum
Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race – but also kept Youngkin at arm’s length
“Forcing girls to be spectators in their own sports is completely at odds with Title IX, a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics,” attorney Christiana Holcomb said. “Connecticut’s policy violates that law and reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women.”
The Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference says its policy follows a state anti-discrimination law requiring that students be treated by the gender with which they identify. The group says the policy is “appropriate under both state and federal law.”
The lawsuit follows a Title IX complaint filed last June by the girls’ families and the Alliance Defending Freedom with the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which is investigating the policy.
The lawsuit centers on two transgender sprinters, Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, who have frequently outperformed their female competitors.
Murder suspect arrested over 40 times before allegedly killing hotel guest
Texas mounted patrol caught on camera capturing illegal immigrant hiding in ranch brush near southern border
Watch: Walmart CEO Crushes George Stephanopoulos’ Desperate Attempt to Push Anti-Trump Narratives
Trump ‘not interested’ in de-escalation with ‘unhinged’ leader of Colombia, White House says
Mayor Eric Adams endorses Andrew Cuomo as his successor as Zohran Mamdani maintains lead in NYC race
Alert: Missionary Kidnapped in Niger, Believed to Be Headed for Area Where ISIS, al-Qaida Are Active
Trump calls off federal deployment to San Francisco after call with ‘friends’ and mayor
Pope prays with British monarch for first time since English Reformation, Charles gets papal seat of honor
Video: Trump Predicts $2 Gas ‘Very Soon,’ Says May Even Go Lower
Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, resurrected amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t end shutdown, Trump official warns
NBA stars, coach among 31 arrested in FBI sports betting crackdown: ‘The fraud is mind boggling’
Watch: JD Vance Defends His Wife from ‘Disgraceful’ Comments Made by Jen Psaki
Largest teachers union teams up with ‘60s radical professor’s namesake org peddling anti-American curriculum
Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race – but also kept Youngkin at arm’s length
The two seniors have combined to win 15 girls state indoor or outdoor championship races since 2017, according to the lawsuit.
The three plaintiffs have competed directly against them, almost always losing to Miller and usually behind Yearwood. Mitchell finished third in the 2019 state championship in the girls 55-meter indoor track competition behind Miller and Yearwood.
“Our dream is not to come in second or third place, but to win fair and square,” Mitchell said. “All we’re asking for is a fair chance.”
Yearwood, of Cromwell High School, and Miller, of Bloomfield High School, have both defended their participation in girls events.
Yearwood told The Associated Press in February 2019 that there are many differences among athletes that may give one a physical advantage
over another, and claimed he doesn’t have an unfair advantage.
“One high jumper could be taller and have longer legs than another, but the other could have perfect form, and then do better,” he said. “One sprinter could have parents who spend so much money on personal training for their child, which in turn, would cause that child to run faster.”
Yearwood’s mother said the athlete had no immediate comment on Wednesday’s lawsuit. Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Murder suspect arrested over 40 times before allegedly killing hotel guest
Texas mounted patrol caught on camera capturing illegal immigrant hiding in ranch brush near southern border
Watch: Walmart CEO Crushes George Stephanopoulos’ Desperate Attempt to Push Anti-Trump Narratives
Trump ‘not interested’ in de-escalation with ‘unhinged’ leader of Colombia, White House says
Mayor Eric Adams endorses Andrew Cuomo as his successor as Zohran Mamdani maintains lead in NYC race
Alert: Missionary Kidnapped in Niger, Believed to Be Headed for Area Where ISIS, al-Qaida Are Active
Trump calls off federal deployment to San Francisco after call with ‘friends’ and mayor
Pope prays with British monarch for first time since English Reformation, Charles gets papal seat of honor
Video: Trump Predicts $2 Gas ‘Very Soon,’ Says May Even Go Lower
Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, resurrected amid Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t end shutdown, Trump official warns
NBA stars, coach among 31 arrested in FBI sports betting crackdown: ‘The fraud is mind boggling’
Watch: JD Vance Defends His Wife from ‘Disgraceful’ Comments Made by Jen Psaki
Largest teachers union teams up with ‘60s radical professor’s namesake org peddling anti-American curriculum
Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race – but also kept Youngkin at arm’s length
The attorneys are asking the court to prevent the transgender girls from competing while the lawsuit moves forward. No hearing date on that request had been scheduled Wednesday, the day before the state’s indoor track championships begin.
Connecticut is one of 17 states that allowed transgender high school athletes to compete without restrictions in 2019, according to Transathlete.com, which tracks state policies in high school sports across the country.
Eight states had restrictions that make it difficult for transgender athletes to compete while in school, such as requiring athletes to compete under the gender on their birth certificate or allowing them to participate only after going through sex reassignment procedures or hormone therapies, according to Transathlete.
Yearwood and Miller have said they are still in the process of transitioning but have declined to provide details.
Story cited here.
