A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday dismissed an appeal brought by four cisgender girls from a Connecticut high school who claimed the state’s trans-inclusive sports policy violated their civil rights and deprived them of the «opportunity to be champions.»
Specifically, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals has upheld the lower court’s decision, stating that the claims are unfounded since it is proven that they participated in track and field competitions with trans girls and still managed to become champions, as reported by CNN.
A federal district judge dismissed the case in April 2021, stating that the girls’ request to block the policy was moot because the two transgender athletes named in the lawsuit graduated in 2020 and there was «no indication» that the plaintiffs would ever compete against trans athletes in the state again.
«All four plaintiffs regularly competed in state track and field championships as high school athletes, where plaintiffs had the opportunity to compete for state titles in various events. And, on numerous occasions, the plaintiffs were in fact ‘champions,’ finishing first in various events, including at times when competing against (Andraya) Yearwood and (Terry) Miller,» the ruling wields, referring to two trans athletes.
«The plaintiffs simply have not been deprived of the ‘opportunity to be champions,'» the panel held.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020 by the cisgender girls, has been used state lawmakers and governors pushing anti-trans sports bans, leading the Republican Party to cite allegations brought by the plaintiffs to prohibit trans girls and women from competing on teams that match their gender identity.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
