A federal appeals court dismissed a challenge to Connecticut’s policy on allowing transgender girls to compete in high school sports. The court rejected arguments by four cis-gender runners who said they were unfairly forced to race against transgender athletes.
It was a three-judge panel for the 2nd U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City that upheld the lower court judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit that challenged the policy. The panel dismissed the claims as speculative and lacking standing to sue, since the cis-gender athletes claim was based on deprived wins, state titles, and athletic scholarship opportunities which are not guaranteed.
And, on numerous occasions, Plaintiffs were indeed “champions,” finishing first in various events, even sometimes when competing against (transgender athletes). Plaintiffs simply have not been deprived of a ‘chance to be champions.
2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling
Arguments were made by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Council that its policy was designed to comply with a state law that requires all high school students to be treated according to their gender identity, and also that the policy is in accordance with Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that allows girls to participate in equal educational opportunities, including athletics.
The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) defended Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, who were the center of this lawsuit.
This critical victory strikes at the heart of political attacks against transgender youth while helping ensure every young person has the right to play
Joshua Block, a lawyer for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project
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