REPORT: Court rules against women in transgender case as GOP fights back

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FROM FOX NEWS: The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting discriminated against a biological male transgender athlete by not allowing that athlete into a women’s competition in 2018.

The court’s decision was unanimous. Five of the seven Minnesota Supreme Court justices were appointed by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, and the other two were appointed by former Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

The trans athlete, JayCee Cooper, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021, alleging the organization engaged in discriminatory practices after rejecting the athlete’s application to compete in the women’s division in 2018, arguing it violated Minnesota’s Human Rights Act.

After a lower court initially sided with Cooper in 2023, the Minnesota Court of Appeals sent the case back to the trial court, saying there were “genuine issues of fact” about whether USA Powerlifting excluded Cooper because of the athlete’s transgender identity and whether the organization had a “legitimate business reason” for doing so. The state’s Supreme Court then decided to take up the case in July 2024.

According to the court’s ruling, “USA Powerlifting’s policy at the time of the decision was to categorically exclude transgender women from competing in the women’s division.”

The court said that the policy was “facially discriminatory.”

Chief Justice Natalie Hudson wrote in Wednesday’s opinion: “Because USA Powerlifting’s facially discriminatory policy provides direct evidence of discriminatory motive, there is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether Cooper’s transgender status actually motivated USA Powerlifting’s decision to prohibit Cooper from competing. We therefore reverse the part of the court of appeals’ decision on this issue.”

“We agree with Cooper that USA Powerlifting’s policy is discriminatory on its face; there is therefore no genuine dispute that USA Powerlifting discriminated against Cooper because of her transgender status.”

USA Powerlifting contends that women would be forced to compete at a disadvantage if transgender women are allowed to compete in the women’s division.

“Our goal at USAPL is to create rules and a framework that uphold the principles of fair play, not to exclude anyone. To support trans athletes, USAPL created an open MX division in 2021 to serve all gender identities, including transgender and nonbinary members. The organization welcomes trans referees in all competitions, open or otherwise,” USA Powerlifting President Larry Maile said in a statement last year.

“Since science shows those who were born biologically male have a profound physical advantage over female-born athletes, our responsibility is to define legitimate categories to fairly place athletes within them.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth issued a statement on the ruling and vowed to ensure fairness in the future.

“For decades, women and girls fought tirelessly for the rights guaranteed under Title IX. Sadly, those hard-won protections have increasingly come under attack, and today’s decision marks another setback in the fight to protect girls’ sports,” Demuth said.

“This issue is ultimately about safety and fairness, and Minnesotans overwhelmingly agree that their daughters and granddaughters should not be forced to compete against boys. House Republicans are ready to act in the first weeks of next year’s legislative session to make clear that girls’ sports are for girls.”

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