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More than 200 female lawmakers have signed an amicus brief backing the legal defense to “save women’s sports” ahead of next week’s Supreme Court oral arguments in two cases related to the issue.
The map contains the signatures of exactly 207 legislators, with Idaho State Representative Barbara Ehardt as the lead amica.
Other prominent names on the list include Maine State Rep. Laurel Libby, who became a central figure in the national debate about women’s sports when she was censured for calling out a trans athlete last February, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Iowa State Senate President Amy Sinclair, Missouri State Senator Cindy O’Laughlin, Alaska State Sen. Senator Janne Myrdal.
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All of the signatories are Republicans, as nearly all Democratic lawmakers across the nation are committed to allowing biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports.
The brief argues, “since the existence of separate women’s sports programs is justified by biological differences between women and men, there are overwhelmingly compelling reasons to determine eligibility for such programs using biological criteria rather than a person’s sense of gender.”
Supreme Court justices will hear arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases from West Virginia and Idaho, where trans athlete plaintiffs previously successfully challenged those states’ laws to keep men out of women’s and girls’ sports.
Several amicus briefs have already been filed, some in support of the defendants seeking to “save women’s sports” and others in support of transgender inclusion.
Super Bowl-winning head coach Barry Switzer and 31 Olympians have signed an amicus brief in support of the legal defense to “save women’s sports” ahead of two upcoming Supreme Court cases involving trans athletes. The signatories also include 12 Olympic medalists, including eight gold medalists.
Meanwhile, 130 Democratic members of Congress have signed an amicus brief urging the justices to rule in favor of two trans athletes.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires, DN.Y.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y.; Late. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Late. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Late. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Late. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.; Late. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Late. Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Late. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. Jeff Merkely, D-Ore., are among the lawmakers on that list.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING SCOTUS CASE OVER TRANS ATHLETES TO PROCEED AFTER DISMISSAL ATTEMPTS
Two female students from West Virginia and their families came forward with the allegations against one of the trans accusers ahead of oral arguments in the case next week. The trans athlete is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Pakinomist Digital is not releasing the name of the trans athlete because the person is a minor.
Bridgeport High School female student Adaleia Cross, who is a former athletic teammate of the trans athlete when the two were at Bridgeport Middle School, claims the trans athlete made comments to her that amounted to sexual harassment in the girls’ locker room. Cross, who is a year older than the trans athlete, said she left the athlete at Bridgeport High School last year as a sophomore to avoid sharing a locker room with the trans athlete again when that athlete reached high school.
Cross’ mother, Abby, told Pakinomist Digital what the trans athlete allegedly said to her daughter when they shared the girls’ locker room during the 2022-23 school year. Adaleia was in eighth grade and the trans athlete was in seventh.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION COACH, OLYMPIAN SIGN AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTING PROTECTION OF FEMALE ATHLETES IN SCOTUS CASE
Abby Cross claims the trans athlete made extremely graphic and vulgar sexual threats against her daughter and other girls on the team.
The ACLU has responded to the Cross family’s allegations.
“Our client and her mother deny these allegations, and the school district investigated the allegations reported to the school by AC and found them to be unsubstantiated. We remain committed to defending the rights of all students under Title IX, including the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment free from harassment and discrimination,” read an ACLU statement provided to Pakinomist Digital.
Cross family attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have responded to the ACLU’s statement.
“Our client has sworn under oath and under penalty of perjury in numerous cases about the events that took place between her and the male athlete. As a result of the situation, [Cross] had to step away from the sport she loved entirely and sacrifice a key element of her school experience to protect herself,” read an ADF statement provided to Pakinomist Digital.
ADF is too representing the state of West Virginia against the trans athlete in the case to be heard by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, former Lincoln Middle School girls runner Emmy Salerno claims the trans athlete used “intimidation tactics” against her after Salerno refused to compete against the trans athlete during an event during the 2024 spring season.
“After we stepped out, it was an immediate personality change. He wouldn’t talk to me. He would just stare at me and just stare down,” Salerno told Pakinomist Digital.
Salerno said there was an incident where the trans athlete followed her while they were at a local basketball game and made intimidating looks, and Salerno was concerned that the trans athlete would try to “fight” her.
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“At the basketball game, when he was just following me everywhere, I kind of felt like, ‘Is he going to try to fight me?'” Salerno said. “‘Is he going to try to sneak up behind me and hit me?’
The ACLU has not responded to Pakinomist Digital’s request for a response to Salerno’s allegations.
