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U.S. NEWS Thursday 13 February 2020

Girls sue to block participation of transgender athletes

By PAT EATON-ROBB
AP Sports Writer
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) —
The families of three female
high school runners filed a
federal lawsuit Wednesday
seeking to block transgen-
der athletes in Connecticut
from participating in girls
sports.
Selina Soule, a senior at
Glastonbury High School,
Chelsea Mitchell, a senior
at Canton High School and
Alanna Smith, a sophomore
at Danbury High School are
represented by the con-
servative nonprofit organi-
zation Alliance Defending
Freedom. They argue that
allowing athletes with male
anatomy to compete has
deprived them of track
titles and scholarship op-
portunities. "Mentally and
physically, we know the
outcome before the race
even starts," said Smith,
who is the daughter of for- High school track athletes Alanna Smith, left, Selina Soule, center and and Chelsea Mitchell
mer Major League pitcher prepare to speak at a news conference outside the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Conn.
Lee Smith. "That biological Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
unfairness doesn't go away Associated Press
because of what some- liance Defending Freedom life and I no longer want to with XY chromosomes is
one believes about gender with the U.S. Education De- remain silent," Miller said. "I found nowhere in the leg-
identity. All girls deserve the partment's Office for Civil am a girl and I am a runner. islative history of Title IX, in
chance to compete on a Rights, which is investigat- I participate in athletics just any implementing regula-
level playing field." The law- ing the policy. like my peers to excel, find tion or in any other aspect
suit was filed against the The lawsuit centers on two community, and meaning of the interpretation of Title
Connecticut Association transgender sprinters, Terry in my life. It is both unfair IX over the last 50 years by
of Schools-Connecticut In- Miller and Andraya Year- and painful that my victo- the courts," he said.
terscholastic Athletic Con- wood, who have frequent- ries have to be attacked The attorneys for Alliance
ference and the boards of ly outperformed their cis- and my hard work ignored." Defending Freedom is ask-
education in Bloomfield, gender competitors. Yearwood said she also is ing the court to prevent the
Cromwell, Glastonbury, The two seniors have com- a girl and has been hurt by transgender girls from com-
Canton and Danbury. bined to win 15 girls state the efforts to "tear down my peting while the lawsuit
"Forcing girls to be spec- indoor or outdoor cham- successes." moves forward. No hearing
tators in their own sports is pionship races since 2017, "I will never stop being me!" date on that request had
completely at odds with according to the lawsuit. she said in her statement. been scheduled Wednes-
Title IX, a federal law de- The three plaintiffs have "I will never stop running! I day, the day before the
signed to create equal competed directly against hope that the next genera- state's indoor track cham-
opportunities for women in them, almost always losing tion of trans youth doesn't pionships begin.
education and athletics," to Miller and usually behind have to fight the fights that Connecticut is one of 17
attorney Christiana Hol- Yearwood. Mitchell fin- I have. I hope they can be states that allowed trans-
comb said. "Connecticut's ished third in the 2019 state celebrated when they suc- gender high school ath-
policy violates that law and championship in the girls ceed not demonized. For letes to compete without
reverses nearly 50 years of 55-meter indoor track com- the next generation, I run restrictions in 2019, accord-
advances for women." petition behind Miller and for you!" ing to Transathlete.com,
The Connecticut Associa- Yearwood. The American Civil Liberties which tracks state policies
tion of Schools-Connecti- "Our dream is not to come Union said it will represent in high school sports across
cut Interscholastic Athletic in second or third place, the transgender teens and the country. Eight states
Conference says its policy but to win fair and square," defend the Connecticut had restrictions that make
follows a state anti-discrim- Mitchell said. "All we're ask- policy in court. Attorney it difficult for transgender
ination law that says stu- ing for is a fair chance." Chase Strangio, deputy di- athletes to compete while
dents must be treated in Yearwood, a senior at rector for Trans Justice with in school, such requiring
school by the gender with Cromwell High School, and the ACLU LGBT & HIV Proj- athletes to compete un-
which they identify and the Miller, a senior at Bloom- ect, said transgender girls der the gender on their
group believes the policy field High School, issued also are protected by Title birth certificate, or allowing
is "appropriate under both statements vehemently de- IX. them to participate only
state and federal law." fending their right to run in "The idea that the law only after going through sex
The lawsuit follows a Title IX girls events. protects the individuals reassignment procedures
complaint filed last June by "I have faced discrimina- with XX chromosomes as or hormone therapies, ac-
the girls' families and the Al- tion in every aspect of my compared to individuals cording to Transathlete.q