By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court
News

Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: December 3, 2024 7:38 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published December 3, 2024
Share
SHARE

A yearslong case surrounding a transgender female powerlifter reached the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday where opening arguments were heard.

JayCee Cooper, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021 after being rejected from the women’s team three years earlier. In the complaint, Cooper alleged the organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against people “having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one’s biological maleness or femaleness.”

A district court ruled last year that the organization discriminated against Cooper, which spurred a mandate that the federation “cease and desist from all unfair discriminatory practices” because of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The federation appealed the decision; Cooper then cross-appealed, and on Monday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals decided the athletic league did not discriminate against the individual.

On Tuesday, the court asked Ansis Viksnins, USA Powerlifting’s attorney, why banning Cooper from women’s competition was not “discriminatory.” 

Viksnins responded it was not “based on gender identity.”

The court asked if the policy would be equal had it been based on race or religion, comparing Cooper’s case to a hypothetical in which Catholics were to be better bowlers — but the comparison was shut down.

“There is no legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason why there could be separation based on religion or national origin or race, whereas there is a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for separating and treating transgender or women differently,” Viksnins said.

Squat rack

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH SJSU TRANSGENDER ATHLETE, KNEELS DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM

“The motive here was to separate biological males into a category where they are competing against other people who were born biologically male, that if I could point out my client separate competitors three ways by age, weight and sex. They do not care about gender identity. They don’t care about sexual orientation.”

The federation opened an “open” category in 2021 “to serve all gender identities,” according to FOX 9 in Minnesota.

“Our goal at USAPL is to create rules and a framework that uphold the principles of fair play, not to exclude anyone,” said Larry Maile, President of USAPL in a statement to the outlet. “Since science shows those who were born biologically male have a profound physical advantage over female-born athletes, our responsibility is to define legitimate categories to fairly place athletes within them.”

A state court cited “increased risk of depression and suicide, lack of access to coaching and practice facilities, or other performance suppression common to transgender persons” as competitive disadvantages for transgender competitors, helping Cooper initially win the discrimination case.

According to Open Powerlifting, Cooper last competed at the 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals in Texas and finished in third place out of three competitors in the division.

Image of powerlifting weights

Cooper twice competed against a lone competitor — Rebecca Richnofsky — in the women’s raw 198+ open category in 2019, winning both times. 

In the 2019 USPA National Championships, Cooper finished in fourth out of four competitors in that category.

Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

‘I’m a dentist – here’s why you should never keep your toothbrush near the toilet’

Trump hosts faith leaders for Easter prayer dinner, slams effort to rid America of Christian principles

Tren de Aragua gang member arrested in NYC was ‘trying to buy grenades,’ Noem says

Trump-affirmed Secret Service agent ‘DJ’ Daniel continues record push to be sworn in by 1,000 law agencies

3 killed in West Bank ‘shooting spree’ including Israeli police officer: reports

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Republican DA bucks blue state’s ‘broken sentencing’ with tough-on-crime approach
News

Republican DA bucks blue state’s ‘broken sentencing’ with tough-on-crime approach

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
DHS defends ICE detainment of Georgia college student who violated traffic laws: ‘Not ignoring rule of law’
Randy Travis stages stunning comeback with help from AI after devastating stroke
Amtrak bilked out of $12M by at least 119 employees, doctors in fraud scheme; many still on the job: report
State trooper points to possible weapon in John O’Keefe death – and it’s not Karen Read’s car
George Pickens looking ahead after Steelers trade him to Cowboys: ‘I’m glad to be here in Dallas’
Letitia James town hall derailed by Trump supporter’s question: ‘Will you apologize?’
News

Letitia James town hall derailed by Trump supporter’s question: ‘Will you apologize?’

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Anti-Israel mob descends on Brooklyn College in NYC as agitators brawl with police, get tased
News

Anti-Israel mob descends on Brooklyn College in NYC as agitators brawl with police, get tased

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Josaia Raisuqe, rugby star who won silver at Paris Olympics with Fiji, dead after accident involving train
News

Josaia Raisuqe, rugby star who won silver at Paris Olympics with Fiji, dead after accident involving train

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Guns and Gear
  • Videos
  • Blog
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?