After JayCee Cooper, an athlete banned from competing in women’s events by USA Powerlifting, filed a discrimination case against the federation, a court has ruled in her favor.
As a result, transgender women are now permitted to compete in USA Powerlifting.
Within two weeks of the initial ruling, USA Powerlifting is required to revise its policy regarding trans women in its events.
In the ruling, Judge Patrick C. Diamond stated that forcing a person to pretend to be something different implies that they are inferior, and that “the USAPL’s evidence of competitive advantage does not take into account any competitive disadvantage a transgender athlete might face from, for example, increased risk of depression and suicide, lack of access to coaching and practice facilities, or other performance suppression common to transgender persons.”
“The harm is in making a person pretend to be something different, the implicit message being that who they are is less than,” wrote Judge Diamond.
The case was filed in January 2021 in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, after Cooper was denied entry into USA Powerlifting competitions due to her gender identity.
USA Powerlifting subsequently instituted a policy that prohibited all transgender women from competing, but on Feb. 27, a judge found the federation guilty of discrimination against Cooper.
It takes courage and strength to fight for what’s right. @JayCeeIsAlive is both courageous and strong. She’s also victorious! We are honored to fight beside her. Hear her story on the latest episode of the Gender Justice Brief. https://t.co/RlwzsTExoM
— Gender Justice (@GenderJustice) March 7, 2023
News by Breaking911
