Staff Reports
A legal organization is preparing to defend female athletes in the face of the growing controversy over whether or not transgender individuals should be allowed to participate in sports.
According to Christiana Kiefer, a senior attorney at the Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization is currently handling multiple cases regarding the rights of female athletes who have faced off against men who identify themselves as women. These cases are focused on preventing biological men from participating in female-only tournaments and defending athletes who have lost out due to policies that allow them to compete as the other gender.
"The group aims to protect the interests of its athletes and ensure that all female athletes have equal access to playing fields."
In 2020, the organization filed a lawsuit in Connecticut to defend female athletes against discrimination. Four female athletes were reportedly denied opportunities to participate in track and field due to the presence of two men in the competition.
"In Connecticut, two male athletes were able to win 15 state championship titles during their high school careers. According to Christiana, this shows how devastating it was for the young women in the state to be forced to compete with these powerful and fast men."
In December, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the complaints of the female athletes lacked standing. The organization that defended the male athletes noted that the court's decision was a victory for equality and fairness.
According to Christiana, the case is currently in court. The ruling prompted lawmakers in various states to pass laws that prevent individuals from competing as the other gender. As of now, 18 states have enacted laws that require athletic competition to be restricted based on sex.
On National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we remember that biological reality matters. Forcing female athletes to compete with males is unsafe and unfair.
As our clients stand up for that reality, we’re proud to stand with them. #NGWSD2023 #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/s9rcoC72t1
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) February 1, 2023
In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho sued the state of Idaho after it passed a law that protects female athletes. The group was able to intervene on behalf of two female college runners who had faced off against a male athlete. A case involving the same issue is currently before the 9th circuit court.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued West Virginia after it enacted a law that prevented transgender individuals from participating in athletic competitions. After the court ruled that the law was constitutional, the state's law was allowed to stand.
The group then appealed the court's decision. According to David Kiefer, the case will be handled by the 4th circuit. The other organization, the Alliance for Justice, was also able to intervene on behalf of a female athlete and a student from Florida. The case is currently in its early stages.
"According to the DCNF, women and girls are the most likely victims of discrimination when it comes to laws and policies that restrict their access to various forms of public accommodations and activities."
The issue of male athletes competing against female athletes in women's sports became more prevalent during the 2021- 2022 academic year when Lia Thomas won a national championship for the University of Pennsylvania. Although most Americans do not support the idea of men competing against female athletes, David Kiefer noted that it is still very challenging for female athletes to speak up.
"Being able to speak out against gender discrimination is very challenging for female athletes. It can also be frightening to be labeled with hateful names on social media. Despite this, David said that he is proud of his clients' willingness to defend their rights."
The DCNF asked the American Civil Liberties Union to comment on the issue. The organization did not respond to its request.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Daily Caller.
