Minnesota’s high court has ruled that USA Powerlifting’s policy of barring transgender women from women’s competitions constitutes discrimination, according to a decision released on Wednesday. The ruling, which was unanimous, found that the organization discriminated against JayCee Cooper, a transgender powerlifter, by excluding her from the women’s division in 2018. The court sent the case back to a lower court to determine if USA Powerlifting had a legitimate business purpose for its exclusion policy.
Cooper, a trans athlete, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021, alleging the organization engaged in discriminatory practices after denying her application to compete in the women’s division in 2018. The court’s decision found that the organization’s facially discriminatory policy provides direct evidence of discriminatory motive, with Chief Justice Natalie Hudson stating that there was no genuine issue of material fact regarding Cooper’s transgender status being the motivation for exclusion. However, the court also sent part of the case back to a lower court to determine whether USA Powerlifting had a legitimate business purpose for excluding the trans athlete.
USA Powerlifting has argued that allowing transgender women to compete in the women’s division would put other women at a disadvantage, as science shows those who were born biologically male have a physical advantage over female-born athletes. The organization created an open MX division in 2021 to serve all gender identities, including transgender and nonbinary members, and welcomes trans referees in all competitions. USA Powerlifting President Larry Maile stated that the organization’s goal is to uphold fair play and create rules that support all athletes, including trans athletes.
Minnesota Republicans have criticized the ruling, with House Speaker Lisa Demuth condemning the decision. She stated that the issue is ultimately about safety and fairness, and that Minnesotans overwhelmingly agree their daughters and granddaughters should not be forced to compete against boys. Demuth announced that 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.
The court’s decision has sparked nationwide debate about the rights of transgender athletes in sports, and whether such inclusion constitutes a threat to the safety and fairness of competitions involving cisgender women. Advocates for trans athletes argue that the ruling is a step toward equality, while opponents, including some state legislators, believe it undermines the integrity of women’s sports and poses a threat to the safety of cisgender athletes.