In recent years, many states have passed laws that protect women’s sports from so-called “transgender athletes.” In many cases, these are men who believe they are women who insist on competing on women’s sports teams. It has been documented that these athletes rob women of awards and opportunities. While states like Florida worked to protect women’s sports, other states have done the opposite.
Opponents of a Connecticut rule that allows “trans athletes” to compete against women will get a second chance to challenge the policy in court, according to NBC News. In the outlet’s coverage, it described the women challenging the policy as “cisgender athletes.”
A federal court will allow four cisgender runners to sue over Connecticut's trans-inclusive policy, which they say deprived them of honors and opportunities. https://t.co/yTwIoWzUxd
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 15, 2023
Reportedly, both sides involved in the lawsuit “called it a win” (via NBC News):
Both sides called it a win. The American Civil Liberties Union said it welcomes a chance to defend the rights of the two transgender high school track runners it represents. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the four cisgender athletes who brought the lawsuit, also said it looks forward to seeking a ruling on the case’s merits.
In a rare full meeting of all active judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, judges found the cisgender runners have standing to sue and have described injuries that might qualify for monetary damages. The runners also seek to alter certain athletic records, alleging they were deprived of honors and opportunities at elite track-and-field events because they say “male athletes” were permitted to compete against them.
The case had been dismissed by a Connecticut judge in 2021, and that decision was affirmed by three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit a year ago.
In 2020, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sued on behalf of four female athletes – Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith, and Ashley Nicoletti – who were forced to compete against male athletes.
The issue of men who believe they are “transgender” competing in women’s sports was pushed to the forefront over Will “Lia” Thomas. As Townhall covered, Thomas competed on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania after competing on the men’s team for three years.
Predictably, Thomas robbed biological women of opportunities and won races competing against women. At the NCAA championships, Thomas took home a NCAA Division I Title. And, when he tied against Riley Gaines at the NCAA championships, he was permitted to take the trophy home, while Gaines left empty-handed.
