DIGGING DEEPER: Another federal investigation into Minnesota high school sports and transgender athletes
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
DIGGING DEEPER: Another federal investigation into Minnesota high school sports and transgender athletes
The transgender athlete’s participation was instrumental in leading Champlin Park High School to a state title. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Minnesota First District Congressman Brad Finstad applauded the latest investigation in a written statement. Three Minnesota high school softball players have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Minnesota State High School League’s policy on transgender athletes. The Minnesota attorney general’s office has not responded to KTTC’s request for comment on the HHS investigation. The investigation comes on the heels of another federal probe into Minnesota state laws that allow biological males in girls sports and defy President Donald Trump’s executive order on ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR), the transgender athlete’s participation was instrumental in leading Champlin Park High School to a state title.
This investigation comes on the heels of another federal probe into Minnesota state laws that allow biological males in girls sports and defy President Donald Trump’s executive order on ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.’
HHS has said its investigation is part of a larger initiative to defend women and restore biological truth to the federal government.
“Females cannot be relegated to the sidelines under Title IX,” said OCR Director Paula M. Stannard. “As a recipient of Federal funds, Title IX requires Minnesota to ensure fair and safe opportunities for females to compete on sex-segregated teams – regardless of state law obligations.”
Minnesota First District Congressman Brad Finstad applauded the latest investigation in a written statement.
“Girls deserve a fair playing field in competitive sports, which the State of Minnesota has denied them by allowing biological males to take roster positions, scholarships, and even championships away from them,” the New Ulm Republican wrote. “As a dad and husband to strong female athletes, I’m glad to see the Trump Administration upholding fairness and equal opportunities in women’s athletics programs by investigating Minnesota’s continued efforts to undermine Title IX protections against biological men playing on girls’ sports teams.”
KTTC reached out to the Minnesota attorney general’s office for comment on the HHS investigation. No response has been provided.
In a previous statement, regarding transgender participation in Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) events, Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “I will continue to defend the rights of all students to play sports with their friends and peers.”
Three Minnesota high school softball players have filed a federal lawsuit challenging MSHSL’s policy on transgender athletes.
“In Minnesota, participation and eligibility of transgender student-athletes is determined by state law, through the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Minnesota Constitution,” MSHSL wrote in a February public statement on the topic. ”The Minnesota State High School League, similar to other youth sports organizations, is subject to state anti-discrimination laws, which prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Therefore, students in Minnesota are allowed to participate consistent with their gender identity.”
In April, Ellison filed a federal lawsuit that alleged two of Trump’s executive orders targeting transgender children and adults violate the U.S. Constitution and Title IX.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
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Minnesota Title IX investigation escalates after Champlin Park softball championship
The Champlin Park girls softball team won a state championship with a transgender pitcher. Law professor David Schultz says Minnesota and the Trump Administration have very different interpretations of Title IX when it comes to transgender athletes. The federal government’s response is due by June 26. The Trump Administration believes Title IX protects women athletes, and transgender athletes violate that protection. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports. It’s now an expedited investigation, with a resolution expected soon. The U.S. Department of Education is raising the stakes in its Title IX investigations against the State of Minnesota.
The U.S. Department of Education is raising the stakes in its Title IX investigations against the State of Minnesota.
Title IX Investigation
What we know:
The federal government announced an investigation into Minnesota earlier this year. A few weeks ago, they launched a second investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League for allowing transgender athletes to play in women’s sports.
Thursday, officials announced they were accelerating the investigation.
Champlin Park state softball title
Why you should care:
This, after the Champlin Park girls softball team garnered national attention. The Rebels just won the Class 4A state championship, led by a star pitcher who is transgender.
The U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice announced Thursday they were elevating their investigations into the Minnesota Department of Education. Federal officials say it’s because Champlin Park won the state softball title with a male athlete.
“If we start to look at the state of interpretation of Title IX, it’s not completely clear,” said David Schultz with the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Trump, Minnesota differ on Title IX
Dig deeper:
Schultz says Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination and education, is being interpreted very differently by the Trump Administration and the State of Minnesota when it comes to transgender athletes.
“It comes down to the federal courts, including possibly the Supreme Court, to render the final interpretation of what Title IX actually requires or what it means,” Schultz said.
The Minnesota State High School League and Department of Education’s position is that Minnesota human rights laws ban discrimination based on gender identity, and that it does not conflict with Title IX. The Trump Administration believes Title IX protects women athletes, and transgender athletes violate that protection.
“They’re going to have to eventually show that the interpretation of the word sex isn’t broad enough to include transgender, and if transgender athletes participate in high school or college sports, their participation actually hurts women, and therefore violates Title IX,” Schultz said.
Ellison sues Trump Administration
What’s next:
So where does this go from here? It’s now an expedited investigation, with a resolution expected soon. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports and threatening to pull federal funding to states.
The federal government’s response is due by June 26.