The Blaze News reports that a transgender powerlifter who is biologically male has won a lawsuit for not being allowed to join a womens weightlifting competition.
The lawsuit was lodged against USA Powerlifting.
JayCee Cooper filed the lawsuit against USA Powerlifting in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in 2019. The lawsuit was put out there because USA Powerlifting was banning Cooper and all other transgender athletes from participating in womens competitions, according to KARE-TV.
The same media outlet (KARE-TV) reported that the judge agreed that USA Powerlifting had discriminated against Cooper for not being permitted to perform in the competition.
Cooper told the station: I was fed up with the way that I was being treated, I was fed up with the way that my community was being treated, and enough was enough.
Cooper added: I feel mostly relief, and, I think we needed a win here, and it feels good to get that.
The station also mentioned Cooper's statement in 2021: I never even got a chance, you know? No one should have to experience that kind of isolation and othering.
Blaze News reports that USA Powerlifting has been issued a cease and desist order regarding any discriminatory practices within the organization, including banning transgender members from participating in womens weightlifting competitions.
Cooper added the following comment when speaking to KARE: After years of experiencing discrimination from USA Powerlifting, and the backlash that has occurred due to that, of course I have complex feelings about the sport. But I think that this win ... is a representation of where we can move forward.
Lawrence J. Maile, president of USA Powerlifting, spoke about this ruling and said that the organization is considering all of its options following this ruling. The statement read:
USA Powerlifting has been involved in litigation in Minnesota involving participation of transgender women in competitive powerlifting. Our position has been aimed at balancing the needs of cis- and transgender women, whose capacities differ significantly in purely strength sports. We have received a summary judgment decision from the Court finding us liable for discrimination. We respectfully disagree with the Courts conclusions. We are considering all of our options, including appeal.
There are still options for USA Powerlifting to move forward with an appeal of the decision by the Court, but they can also decide to create new categories for transgender athletes.
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