Two female teens who protested a biological male’s participation in a high jump championship have won a lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA).
Oregon students Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard were punished for quietly stepping down from an awards podium in response to the OSAA’s decision to grant a biological male a spot on the platform. The male student, who calls himself “Lia Rose,” had tied for fifth with another athlete. On May 31, Anderson, who attended Tigard High School, won third, and Eckard of Sherwood High School secured fourth place.
Anderson and Eckard, who said they feel a duty to stand for fairness to protect the future of women’s sports, turned their backs to the crowd in protest before they were removed from the podium area completely and excluded from the official awards photograph and the presenting of medals. The OSAA then did not promptly ship their medals to the girls’ schools, as per its customary practice.
“We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate,” Anderson told Fox News. “We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right. In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls sports we must stand up for what is right.”
On July 24, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) filed suit on the girls’ behalf, claiming First Amendment violations. The lawsuit argues that their choice to step down from the podium was protected speech and that it was unlawful for the OSAA to retaliate by excluding them from the championship photograph and withholding award medals.
At the time of the suit’s filing, Anderson had not received her medal, which is also not common practice.
Anderson and Eckard, who are now collegiate athletes, not only won the lawsuit against OSAA but were also given the “Most Valuable Patriot Award” by Fox Nation. The TV network also presented the initial medals the girls had won at the state championships in their own award ceremony.
“I want to start off by thanking God. I thank God that you’re all here tonight. I thank God that He gave Alexa and I the courage to stand for truth,” Eckard said in her speech. “There are so many girls that deserve this award for their courage.”
In another victory for women’s sports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) plans to start implementing a new policy that prohibits biological men who identify as women from competing against women, according to multiple reports. The policy will replace its current policy, which gives the governing bodies of the respective Olympic sports the power to create their own rules about transgender athletes. The IOC is expected to announce the decision at the IOC session in February.