Latest news with #MSHSL
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Metro softball players sue Ellison, MSHSL director over transgender athlete participation
A lawsuit was filed Monday against Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, Minnesota State High School League executive director Erich Martens and numerous others by a group representing three metro high school softball athletes centered on the state allowing an athlete to play high school softball who plaintiffs allege was born male. The organization behind the suit is Female Athletes United, which is representing one softball player from Maple Grove and two from Farmington. The suit cites an unfair playing field. The MSHSL voted in 2015 to allow the inclusion of transgender athletes into girls sports. That decision came back under fire on Feb. 5, when President Trump signed an executive order aimed at prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. At the time, the Minnesota State High School League said the executive order is at odds with the Human Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Minnesota Constitution, which prohibits discrimination 'against any person in any protected class, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.' The U.S. Department of Education then announced it was launching an investigation into the high school athletic associations in Minnesota and California. Ellison filed a suit against the Trump administration last month, saying in part that the he viewed the President's executive orders as 'bullying' of transgender children. The lawsuit states that Minnesota's policy 'expands opportunities for male athletes to compete and experience victory at the expense of female athletes. Minnesota's female athletes suffer as a result — experiencing fewer opportunities to play, win, advance, and receive recognition in their own. And these female athletes also suffer the mental burden of knowing that their rights are secondary. Their hard work may never be enough to win.' The lawsuit describes the three represented players' interactions with the athlete it alleges to be male as one player's team repeatedly losing to and struggling to score against the pitcher, one pitcher having to compete with the other athlete for playing time on a club team and the third athlete getting hit by a pitch thrown by the alleged male athlete. The suit stated that the athletes didn't believe it was 'fair' that that would have to potentially compete against the alleged male athlete in postseason competition. Section softball tournaments opened across the state this week.
CBS News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minnesota AG says state lawsuit against Trump administration aims to protect trans youth
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says a state lawsuit against the Trump administration intends to protect transgender children. Ellison on Tuesday provided details of the lawsuit in a noon news conference at the State Capitol. CBS News Minnesota will be streaming a replay of his remarks at 12:30 p.m. Watch in the live player above. According to Ellison, the lawsuit is an attempt to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice from filing a civil lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Education. Last week, the DOJ sued Maine's education department for "discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women's sports" in what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged is a violation of Title IX. "The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports," Bondi said. "This is about sports, this is also about these young women's personal safety." The federal government said in its lawsuit filed in Maine's federal court that the state's Department of Education is "openly and defiantly flouting anti-discrimination law by enforcing policies that require girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions designated exclusively for girls," arguing that the practice violates Title IX's "core protections." It cited three examples of boys participating in girls' sports. Bondi added that the DOJ's actions in Maine could be followed by moves in other states, including Minnesota. "We're looking at Minnesota, we're looking at California," Bondi said. "We're looking at many, many states, but they are the top two that should be on notice." Bondi previously sent letters to Ellison and Erich Martens, director of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), warning them "Minnesota should be on notice," and her department "will hold accountable states and state entities that violate federal law." In February, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender girls and women from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity. In that order, Trump mandated that Title IX be interpreted as prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. Title IX is a federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools. Ellison announced the president's ban was in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act after the MSHSL turned to his office for legal opinion following its announcement on Feb. 7 that it wouldn't comply with the order , citing the state law. While testifying before the U.S. Congress in December 2024, NCAA President Charlie Baker said he was aware of "less than 10" transgender athletes among the more than half a million student-athletes governed by the organization. This story will be updated. Jacob Rosen and Kaia Hubbard contributed to this report.
CBS News
24-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Parents of Minnesota high school athletes paralyzed in games push lawmakers to up insurance payouts
There was emotional testimony at the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday from parents whose kids suffered life-changing injuries playing the sports they loved. The parents of hockey player Jack Jablonski and football player Ethan Glynn said their sons' injuries wiped them out financially. Glynn was paralyzed in a ninth-grade Bloomington Jefferson football game in 2022. He is now a quadriplegic and requires 24/7 care. His family says they didn't receive anything from the Minnesota High School League (MSHSL) insurance because it didn't cover ninth-grade sports. "If he had been on a JV or varsity team, he would have been covered," said Cassidy Dirk, Glynn's mother. "The cost of paralysis is much more than medical bills. It's life-long care, home modifications, specialized equipment." Jablonski became a quadriplegic in 2011 after being checked from behind during a high school hockey game. Because he was on JV and varsity teams, he did benefit from the MSHSL's $2 million insurance policy. But his father, Mike Jablonski, says he was quickly told that would not begin to cover lifetime expenses. "'He said, 'Oh my God, Mike, your family will be financially ruined in the next 10 to 15 years,'" said Mike Jablonski. The two families are seeking to up the MSHSL's lifetime payout to $10 million, with a $50,000 deductible. The students covered would include athletes, student managers, trainers and cheerleaders. However, the MSHSL says that would be too expensive. "I am here to talk to you about the Minnesota State High School League purchase of insurance and urge you not to adopt the bill," said Renee Corneille, a MSHSL board member. Under questioning from the committee, MSHSL members said they had not priced out a $10 million policy, but a $5 million policy would cost $125,000 more. Committee members seemed stunned. "Not sure in my nine years I have been on such an intellectual, emotional roller coaster ride," said Democratic Sen. Steve Cwodzinski. "I think we should help these families some way," said Republican Sen. Jim Abeler. The sponsor of the bill, Democratic Sen. Scott Dibble, did give credit to the MSHSL for increasing their coverage from $2 million to $3 million, and for now including ninth graders. But he said that does nothing to help these families. Dibble said the amount of coverage for kids now playing high school sports in not enough and simply unacceptable. The bill is expected to move forward at the Capitol.
Axios
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Minnesota House to vote on banning trans athletes in girls' sports
The national political fight over transgender youth competing in girls' sports lands at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday. Driving the news: Republicans are using their temporary advantage in the state House to hold a vote on a bill limiting girls' school sports to athletes who are biologically female. Though it's not expected to pass, the measure will bring crowds to the Capitol supporting opposing sides of the debate. A "Protect Girls Sports" rally featuring collegiate swimmer turned conservative activist Riley Gaines and a "Let Kids Play" field day by LGBTQ+ advocates will both be hosted on the mall Monday. The big picture: The vote comes as Minnesota braces for a legal battle with the Trump administration over his executive order barring transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports. State of play: The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) policy allowing students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity has been in place for more than a decade. Zoom in: The bill, HF 12, would change that by stating that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls." It defines female as "biologically determined by genetics and defined with respect to an individual's reproductive system." Friction point: Supporters of a restriction contend that allowing trans athletes to play could lead to biological girls losing opportunities or getting hurt while sharing the field with athletes who are biologically male. Critics counter that a ban discriminates against trans girls and strips them of the positive experience of team sports. By the numbers: Recent state surveys show roughly 3% of ninth graders identify as transgender girls or gender nonconforming. National and state studies suggest that between 15% and 26% of transgender youth participate in sports. What they're saying: House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) told reporters the bill is a "big priority... because of the confusion and the concern" around the issue. "We want to keep girls in girls sports in a safe way," she said, citing "potential physical makeup differences" at the high school level and polling showing strong support for restrictions. The other side: Kat Rohn, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group OutFront Minnesota, criticized the bill as unconstitutional and said it's based on a "categorically not true" idea that all trans athletes are "just male athletes," when they are in a range of bodies and stages of development. Even if the bill fails, she's worried about increased harassment against trans athletes or a chilling effect for participation as a result of the debate. "There's a real sense of sports as a lifeline for some of these kids, where they're beloved teammates," she said. "This has been a space of support for them where they've found friendships and confidence and gotten involved in physical activity." Between the lines: Though Republicans' 67-66 edge due to a vacancy allows them to pass bills out of committee and bring them up for a vote, proposals still need 68 ayes to pass the chamber. Democrats said at a committee hearing last month that none of their members will vote for this bill. The bottom line: The political debate over Minnesota's policies will continue regardless of the outcome of Monday's vote. MSHSL is facing both a Title IX investigation and the threat of a lawsuit from the Department of Justice if it doesn't comply with Trump's order. The league — and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — have said the state's constitution and Human Rights Act supersede the federal executive order.
CBS News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
DOJ threatens to sue Minnesota over noncompliance with Trump's transgender athlete ban
The U.S. Justice Department says it "stands ready to sue" Minnesota and two other states that are defying President Trump's executive order earlier this month banning transgender girls and women from competing in sports consistent with their gender identity. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters on Tuesday to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Erich Martens, director of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), warning them "Minnesota should be on notice," and her department "will hold accountable states and state entities that violate federal law." Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Ron Nocetti, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation, also received similar warnings. "This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law," Bondi said in a release. "We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President Trump's executive order protecting women's sports." On Friday, Mr. Trump met with members of the National Governors Association, including Mills, who told the president " see you in court" following statements he made the previous day about denying her state federal funding over his executive order, entitled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports." On Thursday, Ellison announced the president's ban was in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act after the MSHSL turned to his office for legal opinion following its announcement on Feb. 7 that it wouldn't comply with the order, citing the state law. Days after the MSHSL's announcement, the U.S. Department of Education announced it had launched a Title IX investigation into the league, as well as its California counterpart. Ellison wrote in his opinion that "Title IX does not authorize the President to issue directives with the force of law" and therefore "does not supersede Minnesota law." Minnesota House Republicans, including Speaker Lisa Demuth, have since urged Martens to comply. "This executive order intends to uphold fairness and maintain competitive integrity in school-based athletics, including those in Minnesota," Demuth said in a letter to the league. "By refusing to comply, we believe the MSHSL is jeopardizing equal opportunities for all athletes, particularly female athletes." Late last year, Charlie Baker, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), said he knew of "less than 10" transgender student-athletes within his organization. Earlier this month, the association announced it would "take necessary steps to align" its policy with the order. The athlete ban is one of several transgender-related executive orders Mr. Trump has signed in his first weeks in office, including an order aiming to restrict transgender people from serving in the military and one that mandates the federal government to recognize only two genders. Minnesota lawmakers passed a law in 2023 establishing the state as a " trans refuge." On Tuesday, the White House also took aim at Ellison and leaders in other states who are also in defiance of his immigration enforcement measures, calling them "sick politicians who want killers, rapists roaming our streets."
