USA Powerlifting discriminated against a transgender athlete by banning him from participating in a competition for women, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 2.
The ban of powerlifter JayCee Cooper, a biological male, from two competitions in 2018 was discriminatory, in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), Minnesota’s top court said in a 35-page decision.
“USA Powerlifting’s policy expressly prohibiting transgender women from competing in the women’s division of a powerlifting competition is facially discriminatory and constitutes direct evidence of discrimination based on sexual orientation under the MHRA’s prohibition against discrimination in business and places of public accommodation,” Chief Justice Natalie Hudson wrote….