Connecticut’s educational system is at the center of a legal dispute regarding the participation of transgender student-athletes in women’s competitive sports. The U.S. Department of Education confirmed on Tuesday, escalating the national discussion surrounding youth athletics.
Cromwell Mayor James Demetriades expressed concerns that the school district might forfeit nearly $1 million in federal special education funding if deemed non-compliant. Title IX federal civil rights regulations prohibit gender discrimination in federally funded educational programs or activities.
The Democratic mayor stated that the district would be ineligible for the state athletics meeting if student-athletes are not permitted to compete on teams that align with their gender identity.
He noted that the district is currently adhering to “all applicable state and federal laws and regulations of the Inter-Connecticut Assault Movement Council, the governing authority for state secondary school athletics.” In a Tuesday interview, Demetriades remarked that Cromwell “doesn’t have” high school CIAC athletes that match the gender-specific criteria.
“I do not understand why Cromwell pursued this action,” Demetriades mentioned in a Facebook post. He added that the investigation also encompasses restroom and locker room usage.
The CIAC’s policy allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ high school sports was first contested by four runners who claimed they were compelled to race against transgender sprinters in 2020, involving Cromwell and Bloomfield. The CIAC contended that its policy complies with state laws mandating that all high school students are treated according to their gender identity, aligning with Title IX requirements.
In 2022, the federal appeals court dismissed the plaintiffs’ challenges against CIAC policies, but the lawsuit suggested they were still entitled to opportunities for competition. It has since been revived and is currently pending, with a possible trial in 2026.
Trainer Craig, director of civil rights at the U.S. Education Bureau, stated that the investigation aims to determine whether Cromwell’s policies are “depriving girls and young women of equal movement opportunities.”
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon added: “This administration is committed to defending the sports of women and girls.”
Cromwell, a town located about 20 minutes south of Hartford, which has over 14,000 communities, is planned to host a rally supporting transgender youth at Cromwell High School on Tuesday evening.
In 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, the Civil Rights Office initiated an investigation into Connecticut’s policies. Actions by CIAC, Cromwell, and several other Connecticut communities have resulted in a determination of “loss of athletic benefits and opportunities for female student-athletes.”
A few days after beginning his second term, Trump signed an executive order titled “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports,” stating that it robs women and girls of equitable opportunities, leading to marginalization, humiliation, lack of voice, and privacy issues for women and girls.
In his statement, Demetriades urged state officials to intervene on behalf of Cromwell if the town is sued by the Department of Justice, seeking to protect the town from liability.
The Department of Education initiated the Portland Public School Survey in March; Oregon’s largest school district has permitted transgender athletes to compete on high school athletic teams.
Source: apnews.com