Runner Chelsea Mitchell who lost to trans athletes: ‘This is about fairness’
Chelsea Mitchell, a 20-year-old track star, is fighting for the integrity of women’s sports after losing more than 20 races over the course of her high school career. Mitchell and three other Connecticut residents are challenging their state’s policy that allows transgender athletes to compete in girls sports in court. They are suing the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, seeking to overturn the policy that allows transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. Mitchell is running track as a college senior but said she’ll never know how the dings to her record impacted her recruitment and scholarship prospects. On June 6, her argument will be reheard before the full Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City after a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit ruled against it last December.
FAQs:
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit challenges the Connecticut policy that allows transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. The plaintiffs argue that transgender athletes should compete based on their biological sex rather than their gender identity.
Who is involved in the lawsuit?
Chelsea Mitchell, Selina Soule, Ashley Nicoletti, and Alanna Smith are suing the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.
What are the plaintiffs asking for?
The plaintiffs are asking the court to order their athletic records be updated to reflect the titles and rankings they would have earned had trans athletes not been competing against them.
Why is this lawsuit important?
The plaintiffs argue that transgender athletes have a physical advantage over biological females, and this unfair competition takes away opportunities for girls to win and be recognized for their achievements. The lawsuit aims to restore fairness in women’s sports.
‘Restoring Fairness’: Runner Chelsea Mitchell Addressing the Issue of Competing Against Trans Athletes
Chelsea Mitchell, a 20-year-old track athlete, is fighting for the integrity of women’s sports after losing more than 20 races in high school due to a Connecticut policy that permits transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. Mitchell, who has declared herself “the fastest girl in Connecticut,” is challenging the policy in court with fellow residents, Selina Soule, Ashley Nicoletti, and Alanna Smith. The four are suing the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference to overturn a policy that allows transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity rather than biological sex. Mitchell filed a Title IX complaint against the state policies during her junior year, but was anonymous due to fear of repercussion. By her senior year, Mitchell, Soule, and Smith filed a lawsuit against the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Mitchell’s argument will be reheard before the full Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City after a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit ruled against it in December 2020. The athletes are asking for their athletic records to reflect the titles and rankings they would have earned if transgender athletes had not competed against them. Mitchell’s legal battle coincides with increasing numbers of girls speaking up about loss of opportunities in women’s sports due to trans athletes competing.