On Wednesday, three female high school athletes filed a federal lawsuit to block the participation of transgender students in girls’ sports.
Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, and Alanna Smith all of whom attend different high schools in Connecticut are being backed by Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative nonprofit organization in their lawsuit against the athletic conference. The three runners argue that “allowing athletes with male anatomy to compete has deprived them of track titles and scholarship opportunities.”
The lawsuit focuses on two transgender athletes that compete against the three cisgender girls suing the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood have consistently bested their competitors sparking criticism against the state’s inclusive anti-discrimination policy. Mitchell competed against both athletes in the 2019 state championship, finishing in third place. “Our dream is not to come in second or third place, but to win fair and square,” she stated.
Connecticut is one out of 17 states that enforce anti-discrimination policies allowing trans athletes to compete without restrictions in 2019. Miller, one of the trans athletes that has been targeted in this lawsuit, stated, “I have faced discrimination in every aspect of life and I no longer want to remain silent.” Currently there is no hearing date set.
Sources: AP News 2/12/20; NBC News 2/13/20; The Guardian 2/13/20
