Latest news with #PortlandInterscholasticLeagueChampionship
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Who is Ada Gallagher, the transgender teen setting school track records? The Oregon student's participation in a recent championship reignited debate after she finished 7 seconds ahead of her rival
A high school in Oregon has sparked debate, after allowing a transgender athlete to compete – and dominate – in a girls' track competition. Ada Gallagher, a 16-year-old 11th grader at McDaniel High School in Portland, came in first place in the 400-metre and 200-metre races at the Portland Interscholastic League Championship, as reported by the New York Post. She was seen sprinting way ahead of her rivals, especially in the 400-metres, where she finished more than seven seconds faster than the runner behind her. Advertisement Gallagher previously competed as a 10th grader for the same competition last year, where she came in first place in the 200-metre and 400-metre races. Here's what we know about her amid the news. Ada Gallagher is a high school student Ada Gallagher is studying at the McDaniel High School in Portland, Oregon. Photo: Shutterstock Gallagher is currently a student at McDaniel High School in Portland, Oregon. 'Hello, my name is Ada Gallagher, I love track,' she writes on her profile on the NCSA College Recruiting website. 'I'm able to continue running when thousands of people wish for me to stop and doubt my integrity. And although I enjoy winning I love getting to participate in the sport as a whole.' She is very athletic Controversies aside, it's clear that Gallagher has a sporty streak. She achieved a speedy time of 57.62 seconds in the 400-metres, and a time of 25.76 seconds in the 200-metre race – which were both season records for her, writes New York Post. She was booed after winning last year
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration investigating Portland schools over transgender athlete
The Education Department is investigating Oregon's largest school district and the state's governing body for high school sports for allowing a transgender student to participate in girls' track and field competitions, the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Tuesday. In letters sent this week to Kimberlee Armstrong, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the department alleged both entities violated Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination, by permitting one transgender teenager to compete against and alongside non-transgender girls and access the girls' locker room. OCR said it opened the inquiries in response to a complaint filed with the department and 'credible public reporting' that Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland allowed a trans student to race on its girls' track team the last two seasons. The student, according to OCR, easily won the girls' 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at this and last year's Portland Interscholastic League Championship. The department's investigations into the school district and sports association are the latest in a string of probes the department has opened since President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,' Trump said at the order's signing ceremony in February. In an emailed statement, Armstrong, the school district's superintendent, said she is aware of the OCR complaint and the district 'is fully cooperating with the investigation.' 'I stand firm in our legal responsibilities, and I deeply value every student's right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' Armstrong said, adding that the district 'is in full compliance with Oregon state law, which may differ from federal guidance.' 'We are actively working with our legal and state partners to navigate this complex legal landscape,' she continued. 'While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment — and our district's commitment — to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Oregon state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, meaning schools cannot categorically exclude transgender students from participating in interscholastic activities, according to the state's Education Department. 'Questions about individual sports eligibility or protocols should be directed to the applicable governing association,' reads a portion of the department's guidance for supporting gender-expansive students. The OSAA, representing nearly 200 Oregon cities and communities, has since 2019 allowed transgender student-athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The organization developed the policy with education officials. An OSAA spokesperson said it received notification of the U.S. Department of Education investigation Tuesday, and it is consulting with its legal counsel to respond. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'President Trump and Secretary [Linda McMahon] have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls,' Trainor said in a statement. 'OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades.' The department's investigations into the Oregon school district and the sports body come roughly a week after President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, a longtime target of conservatives. The order, which claims the department 'has plainly failed' students and educators, recognizes it will take an act of Congress to fully shutter the agency. The White House said earlier this month that the department will retain 'critical functions' mandated by Congress, like funding programs for students with disabilities. An Education Department spokesperson did not answer questions about whether there are contingency plans in place for open Title IX investigations in the case of the department's dissolution. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began opening Title IX investigations into schools and states that allow transgender athletes to compete on girls' and women's school sports teams, part of a new initiative within the department's Office on Women's Health. Last week, federal investigators found Maine had violated Title IX by permitting trans student-athletes to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity rather than their birth sex. The University of Maine System said Friday that the administration found its seven universities to be in compliance with state and federal laws, as well as a new NCAA policy barring transgender athletes from women's college sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously testified before Congress that fewer than 10 transgender athletes are competing at the association's member schools nationwide. Updated at 2:47 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration investigating Portland schools over transgender athlete
The Education Department is investigating Oregon's largest school district and the state's governing body for high school sports for allowing a transgender student to participate in girls' track and field competitions, the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Tuesday. In letters sent this week to Kimberlee Armstrong, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the department alleged both entities violated Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination, by permitting one transgender teenager to compete against and alongside non-transgender girls and access the girls' locker room. OCR said it opened the inquiries in response to a complaint filed with the department and 'credible public reporting' that Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland allowed a trans student to race on its girls' track team the last two seasons. The student, according to OCR, easily won the girls' 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at this and last year's Portland Interscholastic League Championship. The department's investigations into the school district and sports association are the latest in a string of probes the department has opened since President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,' Trump said at the order's signing ceremony in February. In an emailed statement, Armstrong, the school district's superintendent, said she is aware of the OCR complaint and the district 'is fully cooperating with the investigation.' 'I stand firm in our legal responsibilities, and I deeply value every student's right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' Amstrong said, adding that the district 'is in full compliance with Oregon state law, which may differ from federal guidance.' 'We are actively working with our legal and state partners to navigate this complex legal landscape,' she continued. 'While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment—and our district's commitment—to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Oregon state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, meaning schools cannot categorically exclude transgender students from participating in interscholastic activities, according to the state's Education Department. 'Questions about individual sports eligibility or protocols should be directed to the applicable governing association,' reads a portion of the department's guidance for supporting gender-expansive students. The OSAA, representing nearly 200 Oregon cities and communities, has since 2019 allowed transgender student-athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The organization developed the policy with education officials. An OSAA spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on the U.S. Department of Education investigation. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'President Trump and Secretary [Linda McMahon] have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls,' Trainor said in a statement. 'OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades.' The department's investigations into the Oregon school district and the sports body come roughly a week after President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, a longtime target of conservatives. The order, which claims the department 'has plainly failed' students and educators, recognizes it will take an act of Congress to fully shutter the agency. The White House said earlier this month that the department will retain 'critical functions' mandated by Congress, like funding programs for students with disabilities. An Education Department spokesperson did not answer questions about whether there are contingency plans in place for open Title IX investigations in the case of the department's dissolution. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began opening Title IX investigations into schools and states allowing transgender athletes to compete on girls' and women's school sports teams, part of a new initiative within the department's Office on Women's Health. Last week, both the Departments of Health and Education said investigators found Maine had violated Title IX by permitting trans student-athletes to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity rather than their birth sex. The University of Maine System said Friday that the administration found its seven universities to be in compliance with state and federal laws, as well as a new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) policy barring transgender athletes from women's college sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously testified before Congress that fewer than 10 transgender athletes are competing at the association's member schools nationwide.
NBC News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Portland schools face civil rights probe over transgender athlete
The U.S. Department of Education said on Tuesday its civil rights office is investigating the Portland, Oregon, school system for allowing a transgender high school runner to compete in female sports and use girls' locker rooms. The department's Office for Civil Rights also said it is investigating the Oregon School Activities Association, which oversees high school sports in the state, and its policy of generally allowing transgender students to play gender-specific sports that do not correspond to their sex at birth. Gender in schools has been a key issue for President Donald Trump and a hot-button topic around the country. In a January executive order, Trump said the previous administration had 'harmed women' by trying to extend protections under Title IX of the federal Civil Rights Act to transgender Americans, and Trump's administration has spoken out against what it calls the 'dangerous and unfair participation of men in women's sports.' 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the anti-discrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' said Craig Trainor, the Department of Education's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. Kimberlee Armstrong, the superintendent of Portland Public Schools, said in a written statement that the system was cooperating with the federal investigation. She said that her schools are 'in full compliance with Oregon state law, which may differ from federal guidance.' 'I stand firm in our legal responsibilities, and I deeply value every student's right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' Armstrong said. The Oregon School Activities Association said in a written statement that it had received an investigation notice from the Department of Education, and that it was consulting with its legal counsel on how to respond. The Department of Education said in a statement that its investigation under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act is related to the school district and state officials allowing a transgender girl to compete in the 200 meter and 400 meter events at the Portland Interscholastic League Championship both last year and this year. The statement said the athlete easily won the events both years. If found to have violated Title IX, a school can face penalties including loss of federal funding. Settlements have historically been more common.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds investigating Oregon school, activities association for possible Title IX violations
March 25 (UPI) -- A male competing against females and using a girls locker room while girls were changing clothing spurred a Department of Education investigation of possible Title IX violations in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Tuesday notified Portland (Ore.) Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong that the school district is being investigated for possible Title IX violations. "We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the anti-discrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law," Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said Tuesday in a news release. "President [Donald] Trump and [Education] Secretary [Linda] McMahon have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls," Trainor said. "OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades." The Education Department announced the investigation after receiving at least one complaint regarding potential Title IX violations when a male athlete competed in a girls' interscholastic track and field competition used the girl's locker room while girls were changing on Wednesday. The DOE also notified officials with the Oregon School Activities Association of a Title IX investigation against the state's organization that is in charge of athletics and other activities. Male athlete dominated girls' track events The investigation arises from a male competing against females during a track competition on Wednesday and allowing that person to use the girls' locker room while girls were inside and changing. The unnamed male athlete has competed in girls' track and field events for Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland over the past two years. A male athlete last year won Portland Interscholastic League Championship titles in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and this year was allowed to compete in the Portland Interscholastic League girls' track and field events. The male athlete won the 200- and 400-meter dashes and beat the closest female competitor by 7 seconds while setting records in the 400-meter-dash event, according to the Education Department. The Title IX investigation also examines the OSAA's "gender identity participation" policy that runs counter to federal Title IX protections for female athletes in grade schools and colleges. The OSAA's gender identity participation policy allows athletes to compete based on gender identity instead of biological sex despite a recent federal court ruling to the contrary and President Donald Trump's executive order banning athletics participation based on gender identity. Federal judge affirms Title IX protections for females U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky Judge Danny Reeves in January ruled Title IX protects female athletes against biological males competing against them or using locations designated for girls and women due to gender identity. Reeves said the Biden administration erred when it included gender identity as a form of "sexual harassment" regarding Title IX protections for students and athletes. Reeves said Title IX since its inception always has determined "on the basis of sex" means the sex a person was born and not gender identity. Title IX protects women against males who identify as females competing in sporting events or using women's or girls' bathrooms, locker rooms or anything of the kind," Reeves ruled. Federal district court rulings do not have national impact, but they serve as precedence in future federal court cases unless overturned on appeal. Portland School District director of media relations Valerie Feder and OSAA director of media communications Nate Lowery did not return calls seeking comment.
