Trans Athlete Lawsuits Surge Over Women’s Sports Bans in Colleges

Another transgender athlete has sued a U.S. college after being banned from women’s sports. This is the third lawsuit of its kind in just a month, and honestly, it’s hard to ignore how heated the debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports has become.

Evelyn Parts, a trans track and field runner, filed a lawsuit against Swarthmore College and the NCAA. She says they violated Title IX by keeping her off the women’s team earlier this year.

The lawsuit points out that even after the NCAA changed its policies and a federal executive order came down, Parts got reinstated to the women’s team in April. She competed until her graduation in May.

The Lawsuit: Evelyn Parts vs. Swarthmore College and the NCAA

Parts is taking legal action against both Swarthmore and the NCAA. She claims the ban from the women’s track and field team ignored updated NCAA policies and federal orders.

NCAA Policy Changes and Federal Executive Orders

Back in February, the NCAA updated its gender eligibility rules, barring biological males from women’s sports. This came right after President Donald Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.

Despite those changes, Swarthmore let Parts back onto the women’s track team in April. That detail is a big part of her lawsuit.

Previous and Related Lawsuits

Parts isn’t alone in this fight. Less than a month before, Sadie Schreiner, another trans runner, sued Princeton University after being excluded from a women’s race.

Emma Morquecho, a trans volleyball player, also took legal action against Westcliff University and the NAIA. She says they revoked her scholarship and denied her eligibility.

Former Cases of Trans Inclusion in Women’s Sports

Lia Thomas, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, and Blaire Fleming, who played volleyball for San Jose State, have both been at the center of similar lawsuits. Athletes like Riley Gaines and Brooke Slusser led those cases against universities and the NCAA.

Schreiner, who was once allowed to compete on Rochester Institute of Technology’s women’s track team, joined Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA too.

Legal Representation and Statements

Susie Cirilli, Parts’ attorney, also represents Schreiner in her case against Princeton. Cirilli hasn’t held back in her criticism of the NCAA’s policy, calling it bigoted.

She accuses Swarthmore of ignoring both federal and state law. Cirilli’s statements have been direct and, frankly, pretty scathing.

Cirilli’s Statements

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Cirilli said the NCAA is a private group that put out a discriminatory policy. She points out that Swarthmore chose to go along with it.

She’s also blasted Princeton officials in Schreiner’s case, calling their actions intolerable and out of line.

Department of Education’s Involvement

The Department of Education has stepped in against several universities over transgender inclusion in women’s sports, even before Trump’s executive order. The DOE made agreements with the University of Pennsylvania and Wagner College to clear records and apologize to female athletes affected by trans athletes’ participation.

Ongoing Investigations

The DOE is still investigating San Jose State over the Blaire Fleming situation. If Parts’ claims check out, Swarthmore would be the second school to allow a trans athlete on a women’s team after the NCAA policy change and Trump’s executive order.

Evelyn Parts has filed a lawsuit against Swarthmore College and the NCAA. This case adds fuel to the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Policies and executive orders are constantly shifting. The results of these cases could shape the future of college athletics and the rights of transgender individuals in ways we can’t fully predict yet.

If you’re curious about the details, take a look at the full article on Fox News.