Posted on 03/10/2023 6:54:39 AM PST by SeekAndFind
MINNEAPOLIS — A journey that began four years ago has now come to an end for powerlifter JayCee Cooper after a judge ruled that USA Powerlifting indeed discriminated against Cooper, who is transgender, when she was banned from competing in women's competitions.
"I feel mostly relief, I think we needed a win here and it feels good to get that," Cooper said.
For Cooper, the sport she loves so much came with thorns.
"I never even got a chance you know?" she said in a video produced by Gender Justice in 2021. "No one should have to experience that kind of isolation and othering."
In 2019, Cooper, through Gender Justice, filed a discrimination claim with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, against USA Powerlifting for banning her and all other trans women athletes from competing in women's competitions.
Then in 2021, the team filed a lawsuit against the organization in Ramsey County.
"I was fed up with the way that I was being treated, I was fed up with the way that my community was being treated and enough was enough," Cooper said.
With the ruling including a cease and desist on USA Powerlifting of all unfair discriminatory practices because of sexual orientation and a request for the agency to submit a revised policy – this is a win.
But it's a victory that's not easy to celebrate, for Cooper.
"After years of experiencing discrimination from USA Powerlifting, and the backlash that has occurred due to that, of course I have complex feelings about the sport," Cooper said. "But I think that this win – [it] is a representation of where we can move forward."
And she credits her predecessors.
"Marsha P. Johnson, and the Stonewall riots, and the plethora of Black trans advocates and activists throughout history – and the way they've led this fight – I am just one small piece that is built off of that," Cooper said.
In a statement. USA Powerlifting's president said they will be exploring options, including appeal. Their statement is below.
"USA Powerlifting has been involved in litigation in Minnesota involving participation of transgender women in competitive powerlifting. Our position has been aimed at balancing the needs of cis- and transgender women, whose capacities differ significantly in purely strength sports. We have received a summary judgment decision from the Court finding us liable for discrimination. We respectfully disagree with the Court’s conclusions. We are considering all of our options, including appeal.
Respectfully,
Lawrence J. Maile, Ph.D., President"
I have said the same thing recently to my hubby. Simple blood test for all who want to compete; and, that is where you compete. These people are basically erasing women. I am thoroughly offended by these people. They have NO idea what it is like to be an actual woman.
When one of these mentally ill men goes through 22 hours of labor, as I did when I gave birth to my eldest child, then they can come talk to me. AND, no one gave me a cookie afterward. (Man dressed as woman visiting Poseur at the WH, he gave him a cookie.)
They can "claim" anything they like. What they actually ARE, is the point here; and, a blood test will tell where they can compete. I don't care what they "identify" as; what you actually ARE should be the standard for competing in athletic events. Especially at this level.
And, I would like to point out, as I have done previously, that a lot of these competitions involve scholarship money. So, these males are not just taking titles away from females -- they are taking away scholarship money to help pay for college. This needs to stop.
**Chart America’s decline since 1950.**
That’s about when teevee began programming America in the home in a big way.
It’s produced a self-absorbed society. It’s also about money. Sports programs and industries can’t exist without money. So all these sports are hyped to the stratosphere, as though they are what makes life worth living.
“Look at me! Look at me!”
What a pathetic way to go through life.
I’ve seen the effect in the Sunday school attendance drop. Kids have to be at Sunday games and tournaments, because....
...they gotta get that college scholarship!
Let’s give Minnesota away to Canada.
Yeah, historic. As in, Womyn’s Powerlifting is now about to be history.
I’m afraid that unless the dude now looks like a Ken doll down there, he is still an ‘XY’. Maybe the girls should take him into the powder room and perform a ‘cutmyjunkoffme’ operation.
That’s the answer.
Simple, just cancel the competition.
EXACTLY
Women are not “going for the silver” if they participate, and may as well trumpet “we’re number two.”
BINGO.
Blind genetic test. XX in this league XY in that league.
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