Transgender athlete reaches settlement with USA Powerlifting
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Minnesota trans athlete JayCee Cooper has reached a settlement agreement with USA Powerlifting, after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the organization violated her rights by barring her from women’s competitions.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled last year that the powerlifting organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
Cooper is represented by the nonprofit Gender Justice. Legal director Jess Braverman said in a statement that this is a victory for Cooper.
“In the settlement we’ve reached with USA Powerlifting, they have acknowledged that their policies excluding trans women athletes broke the law. They are also paying a sum for the harm they caused,” Braverman said.
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Attorneys have not shared the amount of that sum or other details of the settlement agreement.
When the Minnesota Supreme Court issued its ruling last year, it didn’t entirely settle the case; it sent a business discrimination claim back to the district court. Powerlifting USA had argued that it had a “legitimate business purpose” under Minnesota law to bar trans women from women’s competitions. The settlement ends the court’s consideration of that claim.
In a statement, USA Powerlifting said the organization decided that “continuing to pursue legal resolution carried greater risks and costs than achieving a settlement.”
The organization maintained its concerns that Minnesota’s laws allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports are unfair to other women.
“What the plaintiffs cast as a victory for transgender rights is a ruling that has forced Minnesota to take a step backward for women, fair competition and common sense,” former USA Powerlifting president and women’s powerlifting coach Larry Maile said in a statement.
Minnesota officials and advocates have pushed back on that claim, amid debates over Minnesota’s current laws allowing high school students to play sports consistent with their gender identity. The state Legislature and attorney general have maintained that its policies are consistent with Title IX and protect trans athletes from discrimination.
The federal government filed a lawsuit against the state challenging those laws in March.
Braverman said Cooper’s case is a win for the state’s trans-inclusive sports policies.
“We celebrate this victory, but we also remain vigilant,” Braverman said. “We will continue to ensure that all Minnesotans, including transgender Minnesotans, can participate in sports, schools, employment, and health care without facing discrimination because of who they are.”
Powerlifting USA said it’s still deciding on its next steps for operating in Minnesota to comply with the court ruling.
