For the past few years, transgender female athlete JayCee Cooper has been banned by USA Powerlifting from competing in female events. But now, the federation will be forced to allow her to compete after Cooper won a discrimination case against the powerlifting federation.
According to a report from KARE11, the court decision means that USA Powerlifting must “cease and desist from all unfair discriminatory practices” and revise its policy to allow transgender female athletes to compete in female events within two weeks.
“I feel mostly relief, I think we needed a win here and it feels good to get that,” Cooper said. “I was fed up with the way that I was being treated, I was fed up with the way that my community was being treated and enough was enough.”
Though it is a win, it still isn’t easy for Cooper to celebrate given how much hurt the federation has caused.
“After years of experiencing discrimination from USA Powerlifting, and the backlash that has occurred due to that, of course I have complex feelings about the sport,” Cooper said. “But I think that this win – [it] is a representation of where we can move forward.”
USA Powerlifting president Lawrence J. Maile released a statement saying the federation “respectfully disagrees” with the court decision.
“USA Powerlifting has been involved in litigation in Minnesota involving participation of transgender women in competitive powerlifting,” Maile said in a statement. “Our position has been aimed at balancing the needs of cis- and transgender women, whose capacities differ significantly in purely strength sports. We have received a summary judgment decision from the Court finding us liable for discrimination. We respectfully disagree with the Court’s conclusions. We are considering all of our options, including appeal.”
[KARE11]
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