Three Oregon high school girls have filed a federal lawsuit demanding transgender athletes be banned from competing in girls’ sports and that prior records set by trans girls be erased and reassigned to cisgender athletes.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, claims that allowing transgender girls—referred to in the suit as “biological males”—to participate in girls’ track and field has violated Title IX. The federal law designed to protect equal access to education and athletics. The plaintiffs allege that the Oregon School Activities Association and three school districts created an environment that is “unfair and discriminatory” to cisgender girls.
Lawsuit Alleges Competitive Disadvantage
Backed by the America First Policy Institute, a think tank tied to former Trump administration officials, the suit names two trans athletes—A.G. and L.R.—who allegedly “dominated” track and field events after switching to compete in girls’ divisions.
“Permitting biological males to compete in girls’ sports ignores the physiological advantages men have over women,” the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs argue that features like “muscle mass, height, and cardiovascular capacity” give trans girls an unfair edge. And that there are “no examples” of trans boys dominating boys’ events in the same way.
The students are asking the court to:
- Ban trans girls from participating in future girls’ competitions
- Invalidate records and titles previously won by trans girls
- Reassign victories to cisgender girls who placed behind them
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, named in the suit, has been a vocal opponent of anti-trans legislation. And declined to comment on the case.
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Trans Athlete National Context
The lawsuit comes amid a growing national debate over transgender inclusion in sports. The Trump administration has pledged to revoke federal funding for schools that permit trans girls in female athletic competitions. Further calling the practice “demeaning, unfair, and dangerous.”
The administration has also filed a civil lawsuit against the state of Maine and launched investigations into Oregon schools that allowed trans athletes to compete.
The Supreme Court is set to take up a related case this fall, which could set a national precedent on whether states can restrict transgender students from participating in school sports aligned with their gender identity.
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