High School Runners Sue School District Over First Amendment Rights Amid Transgender Athlete Controversy

Riverside, California – Two high school students at Martin Luther King High School have made headlines after filing a lawsuit against their school district. The students, Kaitlyn and Taylor, are cross-country runners who allege that their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and Title IX protections were violated when officials directed them to stop wearing T-shirts that read “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense. XX ≠ XY.”

The controversy began when a transgender athlete was placed on the girls’ varsity team, which allegedly displaced Taylor from her spot despite her consistent attendance at practices. Taylor expressed her surprise, saying, “I was really surprised, because it was like, why is this happening to me?” Both girls claim that they were merely trying to raise awareness regarding their situation.

According to their lawsuit, school officials compared their shirts to wearing a swastika, alleging that it created a “hostile” environment. Kaitlyn said, “It was definitely hard to hear because we’re by no means trying to be hateful.” They argue that their shirts were simply a means of expression, especially since the transgender athlete was allowed to wear “trans pride” bracelets.

The lawsuit highlights that despite Taylor’s dedication and hard work, she was reclassified to the junior varsity team, which impacted her chances of being seen by college scouts. The girls’ attorney, Julianne Fleischer, noted that the lawsuit points to violations of their rights under Title IX and argues that the school district has not provided clear reasoning for Taylor’s displacement.

As the situation continues to unfold, Kaitlyn and Taylor hope that their case will contribute to a broader conversation about women’s rights in sports and the implications of current policies regarding transgender athletes. The Riverside Unified School District has yet to offer a comment on the ongoing litigation.