JayCee Cooper Wins Discrimination Lawsuit Against National Powerlifting Organization in Historic Ruling

JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman from Minneapolis, has won a discrimination lawsuit against USA Powerlifting, which barred her from participating in women’s competitions. District Judge Patrick Diamond has ordered the organization to revise its policies within two weeks and to cease and desist from discriminatory practices against Cooper. The trial on damages is scheduled for May 1.
Discrimination lawsuit filed by JayCee Cooper
The lawsuit was filed by attorneys for Gender Justice in June 2021, alleging violations of Minnesota’s Human Rights Act. This came two years after the advocacy group filed a charge of discrimination with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Judge orders USA Powerlifting to revise its policies
Diamond has ordered USA Powerlifting to revise its policies within two weeks and to cease and desist from discriminatory practices against Cooper. The judge has also scheduled a trial on damages for May 1.
Discriminatory practices against Cooper
USA Powerlifting prohibited Cooper from competing in the female category despite her self-identification as a transgender woman. The organization’s policy was discriminatory and began and ended with Cooper’s protected status as a transgender woman, according to Diamond.
Performance advantage is not a reason for discrimination
Diamond has written in his decision that an unfair performance advantage because of sexual orientation or sex is not a reason to discriminate. He has also pointed out that USA Powerlifting did not find Cooper too big, too small, or too just right. The only consideration in USAPL’s policy was Cooper’s protected status as a transgender woman.
Cooper’s ineligibility to compete
Cooper had trained for and registered to compete in the 2019 USAPL Minnesota State Bench Press Championship in Maplewood and the Minnesota Women’s State Championship. However, a USAPL medical doctor emailed Cooper, informing her that she was ineligible to compete. The emailed explanation read “male-to-female transgenders are not allowed to compete as females in our static strength sport as it is a direct competitive advantage,” the lawsuit states.
USA Powerlifting’s ban on transgender women
After Cooper’s ineligibility to compete, USA Powerlifting issued a formal policy banning all transgender women from participating in its competitions. The ban is an outlier among international, national, and local sports organizations, according to Jess Braverman, legal director at Gender Justice.
Cooper’s statement on the ruling
Cooper has issued a statement in which she expressed her happiness that the ruling recognizes the rights and humanity of transgender athletes. She hopes the ruling will open doors for transgender athletes to participate fully in sports.
Attorney’s reaction to the decision
Braverman has described the ruling as a “huge win” and meaningful at a time when transgender people are facing attacks in the country. Trans inclusion in sports is a good thing for women’s sports, and trans women want to compete for the same reasons as any other woman, she said.
USA Powerlifting considering options
The decision highlights the importance of creating inclusive policies for transgender athletes and ensuring equal access to sports participation. While some organizations have adopted such policies, USA Powerlifting’s ban on transgender women remains an outlier. This ruling sends a message to sports organizations that discrimination against transgender athletes is not acceptable and can have legal consequences. The case also underscores the ongoing struggles that transgender individuals face in society and the importance of advocacy groups in fighting for their rights. Ultimately, everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sports regardless of their gender identity, and this ruling is a step in the right direction toward achieving that goal.