Minnesota transgender athlete policy faces dual court hearings

Two separate lawsuits challenging Minnesota’s policy regarding transgender athletes in girls' high school sports are scheduled for hearings in St. Paul on Monday.

The first hearing involves a lawsuit filed by Female Athletes United against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, state officials, the Minnesota State High School League, and three school districts. The plaintiffs argue that the state's policy undermines competitive fairness and violates Title IX. A previous attempt by the group to secure a preliminary injunction to halt the policy was denied by a federal judge and subsequently upheld by an appeals court.

A second, federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice targets the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League. The Justice Department contends that the state's policies create unfair competition, deny girls equal educational opportunities, and expose students to physical and psychological risks. The federal government is seeking nearly $10 million in this case, linking compliance with federal funding requirements. The Minnesota Department of Education has requested the dismissal of this lawsuit, arguing that the students involved in the original complaint have graduated and no active harm remains.