Michigan father sues school district over transgender athlete participation

A Monroe, Michigan, father has filed a 67-page civil rights complaint in the U.S. District Court in Detroit against Monroe Public Schools and the Michigan High School Athletic Association. The lawsuit alleges a violation of Title IX following a varsity girls volleyball game held on September 9, 2025.

The complaint, filed by Sean Lechner, stems from a match between Monroe and Ann Arbor's Skyline High School, which included a transgender woman on the team. Lechner alleges that school officials failed to notify parents regarding the presence of a transgender athlete on the opposing team.

Lechner’s attorney, Richard Thompson, argued that athletic directors have an obligation to inform participants when a male athlete is on the opposing team, citing potential physical and mental impacts on female players. Monroe Public Schools issued a statement noting they are aware of the reports but have not yet been served with the lawsuit, maintaining a commitment to state and federal laws.