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.
Trump set to deliver ‘historic’ speech celebrating America’s 250th anniversary
Paul Pelosi, 86, faces a hit-and-run charge after striking a parked car in Napa County: sheriff’s office
US celebrates its 250th birthday: PHOTOS
Library of Congress celebrates America 250 with massive birthday cake
America 250 around the world
Illegal immigrant truck driver charged in death of trooper who moved home to care for mom with cancer
Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
New York Democrats’ Gerrymander: Too Little, Too Late And Too Expensive
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Court Looks to Decide Fate of ‘Decoy’ Candidate with Same Name as Senator
“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.
Trump set to deliver ‘historic’ speech celebrating America’s 250th anniversary
Paul Pelosi, 86, faces a hit-and-run charge after striking a parked car in Napa County: sheriff’s office
US celebrates its 250th birthday: PHOTOS
Library of Congress celebrates America 250 with massive birthday cake
America 250 around the world
Illegal immigrant truck driver charged in death of trooper who moved home to care for mom with cancer
Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
New York Democrats’ Gerrymander: Too Little, Too Late And Too Expensive
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Court Looks to Decide Fate of ‘Decoy’ Candidate with Same Name as Senator
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.
Trump set to deliver ‘historic’ speech celebrating America’s 250th anniversary
Paul Pelosi, 86, faces a hit-and-run charge after striking a parked car in Napa County: sheriff’s office
US celebrates its 250th birthday: PHOTOS
Library of Congress celebrates America 250 with massive birthday cake
America 250 around the world
Illegal immigrant truck driver charged in death of trooper who moved home to care for mom with cancer
Heat wave cancels some DC Independence Day celebrations
Two Americas: Mamdani and Trump give speeches ahead of Independence Day
Here Are 5 Insane Books Elementary Schools Are Offering Kids
The Answer To America’s Food Security Woes
Trump pardons 9 people convicted of tampering with emission controls on diesel engines
Pope Leo urges US to welcome immigrants in America 250 speech before visiting global migrant hotspot
New York Democrats’ Gerrymander: Too Little, Too Late And Too Expensive
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to negotiate a 5% stake in company for US if competitors agree to key provision
Court Looks to Decide Fate of ‘Decoy’ Candidate with Same Name as Senator
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.
