Feds launch another investigation into MSHSL transgender athlete policy

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it is investigating an athlete on a high school softball team that won a championship.

The OCR is investigating the Minnesota Department of Education and the MSHSL regarding their transgender athlete policy, which does not align with a federal executive order that bans trans girls from participating in women’s sports.

The state is following the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which is an anti-discrimination law that protects various groups of people, including transgender athletes in school.

This is not the first time the MSHSL has been investigated for its policy since President Trump signed the executive order in February.

RELATED: AG Bondi warns Minnesota to comply with anti-trans athlete policy or face legal consequences | Feds to investigate MSHSL over policy to follow state law instead of Trump order on trans athletes

The Minnesota attorney general, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and several other state agencies are also facing a federal lawsuit over the state’s transgender athlete policy.

The suit claims the policy discriminates against female athletes and violates Title IX.

The plaintiffs are three high school girls who believe it’s unfair to compete against a trans softball player.

RELATED: Lawsuit filed over Minnesota’s transgender athlete policy

The plaintiffs are being represented by Alliance Defending Freedom and True North Legal.

In 2015, the MSHSL voted to open girls’ sports to trans student-athletes.

On Thursday, Attorney General Keith Ellison told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, “The Trump Administration is dead wrong about Title IX, but that’s not stopping them from engaging in another round of piling onto and bullying vulnerable children who only want to live their lives in peace and safety. This ‘investigation’ is ripped from a playbook we’ve already seen in other states and will lead to a pre-ordained outcome. I strongly warn HHS and all federal agencies engaged in this sham exercise not to violate the privacy of any minors in the process, and advise them that the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office will vigorously defend Minnesota agencies who are properly following state and federal law and our constitution.”

RELATED: Ellison: Keeping trans girls from competing in sports would violate Minnesota law

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the Department of Education for a comment and has not received a response.
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