Education Department condemns boys competing as girls

A policy in Connecticut allowing males who identify as females compete in girls high school sports violates the civil rights of girl athletes, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The current rules “denied female student-athletes athletic benefits and opportunities,” the department’s Office of Civil Rights noted in a 45-page letter dated May 15.

What does this mean for the athletes? Although the Education Department has not handed down any punishment, the civil rights office may seek to withhold federal funding earmarked for Connecticut public schools. Several high school students in the state and their families sued in February to keep males from competing in female sports, arguing that the transgender runners had an unfair advantage. “It feels like we are finally headed in the right direction,” Chelsea Mitchell, a senior track competitor and one of the plaintiffs, said on Thursday.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the original lawsuit in Relations.