SE Minnesota News

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that individuals who identify as a different gender from their biological sex have the right to compete on female athletic teams. This decision, announced this week, determined that preventing a transgender athlete from participating in USA Powerlifting’s women’s division constitutes discrimination under the state’s Human Rights Act.

Minnesota State Representative Steven Jacob (R-Plainview) responded to the ruling with concerns about its impact on female athletes. “This decision will be nothing but problematic for female athletes in our state,” Jacob said. He questioned whether it is fair or safe for girls to compete against biological males and argued that such participation could undermine fairness in school sports.

Jacob referenced Title IX, a federal law designed to guarantee women and girls the right to compete on equal terms in athletics. He pointed out that while Title IX was created to ensure a level playing field for female athletes, the court’s interpretation of Minnesota’s Human Rights Act now requires schools and athletic organizations to allow transgender athletes to participate in divisions consistent with their gender identity.

Citing public opinion data, Jacob stated: “8 out of 10 Americans believe girls sports should only be reserved for girls, including 67% of Democrats, according to a New York Times poll.”

Jacob called on the legislature to pass the Preserving Girls Sports Act during the next session. The proposed legislation would restrict participation in female athletic teams at elementary and secondary schools to students of the female sex, as defined by anatomy, testosterone levels, and chromosomal analysis confirmed by a physician.

He noted that with party control nearly evenly split in the Minnesota House of Representatives, at least one Democrat would need to support the bill for it to advance. “In my opinion, Minnesota’s all-liberal Supreme Court got this one very wrong. The legislature now must make it very clear that girls should not be forced to play against boys in female athletics,” Jacob added.

Jacob encouraged constituents with questions about legislative issues to contact him directly.