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Advocates on Wednesday celebrated a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that found USA Powerlifting violated the state’s Human Rights Act in barring a transgender woman from competition.
The state Supreme Court in its ruling said that “USA Powerlifting’s policy at the time of the decision was to categorically exclude transgender women from competing in the women’s division” and reversed part of an appeals court ruling on the issue.
JayCee Cooper is a transgender athlete who was denied entry into two women’s competitions in 2018. She sued, arguing that doing so amounted to discrimination and violated Minnesota’s Human Rights Act.
USA Powerlifting argued its policy wasn’t because of her transgender status, but because she had “strength advantages.”
“The court found USA Powerlifting liable for discrimination,” Gender Justice Legal Director Jess Braverman said. “In other words, that when it comes to discrimination, public accommodation, you cannot bar transgender women from women’s sports teams, and that is a huge victory. We are so proud.”
The Supreme Court did send one issue — a business discrimination claim Cooper made — back to lower court proceedings. But Braverman said the outcome of those proceedings would not affect the settled issue of discrimination in public accommodations.
“JayCee Cooper won on public accommodations. That’s not changing no matter what,” Braverman said. ” … Even if we took the business claim to its end and even if USA Powerlifting were successful on that, they would still lose on public accommodations and be liable to her for discrimination.”
WCCO has reached out to USA Powerlifting for comment but has not heard back.
A statement from Minnesota House Republicans called the state Supreme Court’s ruling “another setback in the fight to protect girls’ sports.”
This story will be updated.
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WCCO Staff
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