XX-XY Athletics Sues Colorado Over Trans Anti-Discrimination Law

XX-XY Athletics, a women’s activist sportswear brand founded by gymnast Jennifer Sey, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado challenging a recent amendment to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The law expands protections based on gender identity to include "chosen name" and preferred forms of address in public accommodations and advertising, which XX-XY Athletics argues infringes on their First Amendment rights by prohibiting them from using biologically accurate language regarding transgender individuals. The lawsuit claims that failure to comply with the law would subject the company to cease-and-desist orders, investigations, and penalties, effectively censoring their message opposing the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. The legal action is supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group known for defending similar free speech cases. This dispute has drawn attention beyond legal circles, with potential implications for consumer sentiment and market dynamics in the sportswear and retail sectors, as well as possible indirect effects on cryptocurrency markets due to shifts in investor risk appetite. Colorado officials have declined to comment on the lawsuit, while XX-XY Athletics emphasizes that the law threatens free speech and the rights of women and girls in sports.