Minnesota Supreme Court Rules USA Powerlifting Discriminated Against Trans Athlete

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting's blanket ban on transgender women competing in the women's division violates the state's Human Rights Act, affirming that the organization's policy constitutes discrimination against transgender athletes like JayCee Cooper. However, the court also identified a factual dispute over whether USA Powerlifting has a legitimate business purpose for the exclusion, sending part of the case back to a lower court to assess this defense. USA Powerlifting criticized the ruling, defending its sex-based competition categories as essential for fairness and expressing intent to present its evidence to a jury. Advocates for transgender rights hailed the decision as a landmark victory clarifying that transgender women cannot be barred from women's sports teams. The case highlights ongoing legal complexities and tensions between anti-discrimination protections and claims of competitive fairness in sports. The ruling has sparked debate among lawmakers and advocacy groups regarding the balance between inclusion and protecting women's sports.