Around New England

Connecticut Trans Athlete Policy Violates Title IX, U.S. Department of Education Says

May 30, 2020

The state of Connecticut’s policy allowing male-to-female transgender athletes to compete in girls’ high school sports is a civil rights violation, the U.S. Department of Education has ruled.

The Associated Press reports that the federal education department determined that Connecticut’s policy violates Title IX, which protects women’s ability to receive equal opportunity in education, including athletics.

The U.S. Department of Education’s letter to Connecticut says the state has “denied female student-athletes athletic benefits and opportunities, including advancing to the finals in events, higher level competitions, awards, medals, recognition, and the possibility of greater visibility to colleges and other benefits.”

The state was already being sued federally for its transgender athlete policy. That’s because two biologically male runners, Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, finished first and second respectively in the Connecticut girls’ 55 meter dash state championship last year.