Wrestler’s Title IX Lawsuit Challenges Washington's Transgender Sports Policy

A Puyallup-area high school wrestler is taking her case to federal court, challenging Washington policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls sports. The student and her mother are suing the Puyallup School District, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and others under Title IX after she alleges she was sexually assaulted during a wrestling match against a biological male opponent last December. Her attorneys with Alliance Defending Freedom are seeking an injunction that would allow her to leave her current school environment, require advance notice and an opportunity to opt out before competing against a male athlete, and prevent her from being required to wrestle against biological males. The case has also raised questions about how school officials responded after the alleged incident. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department investigated the allegation, while the U.S. Department of Education is also investigating the Puyallup School District’s handling of the matter. The WIAA declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, while a previous statement from the school district said student safety is a top priority and that reports involving student safety are taken seriously. The Center Square’s Washington In Focus Daily breaks down the federal court fight, the Title IX arguments and what the case could mean for girls sports in Washington. #WashingtonState #Puyallup #GirlsSports #TitleIX #WIAA #TransgenderAthletes #PuyallupSchools #WashingtonNews #WApolitics #HighSchoolSports #Wrestling #FederalCourt #StudentAthletes #WashingtonInFocus #TheCenterSquare