Administration confronts yet another state with 10-day ultimatum over trans athletes

The current Administration this week made Minnesota its latest target in a continuing offensive against transgender girls playing girls sports in their schools. The U.S. Department of Education has asserted that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota High School League are in violation of Title IX for allowing transgender girls to compete in girl’s high school sports.

The DOE said the MHSL must revise their policy in the next 10 days or “risk imminent enforcement action.” The MHSL — the state governing body for high school athletics — stated previously that their regulations, enacted in 2015, are in line with the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

MHSL officials have not committed on this federal directive, but Minnesota’s DOE put up out statement that they are “reviewing the letter and remains committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and supportive school community.”

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The Administration put Minnesota on notice in April with an investigation and penalties pertaining the issue. The response of the state was a preemptive lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Ellison said the President’s focus on a “small number of vulnerable children” is “unconscionable.” His burning desire to destroy trans kids and punish us for helping them live and thrive isn’t just a violation of the law — it’s a violation of Minnesota values.

“I’ve been around my share of bullies in my life, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t give bullies an inch.”

Since the President’s executive order on trans athletes earlier this year, California, Maine, Massachusetts and two school districts in Connecticut have directly faced punitive action by the federal government. Maine forced the Administration to accept a settlement over attempts to freeze funds due to alleged Title IX violations.

The common denominators in play are that each of these state and districts have strong human rights protections for transgender citizens, and have previously or currently have transgender student-athletes competing for their school teams.

Minnesota was a center of the discussion earlier this spring when a starting pitcher for a state championship softball team at Champlin Park High School was reported to be a transgender girl. Neither the student-athlete nor the school publicly affirmed her gender identity.

This latest attempt by the Administration also comes as this issue is set to have a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices will hear arguments concerning West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” at some point in the Court’s fall term, with a ruling expected sometime next summer.

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