Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League for letting biological males compete in girls’ athletics.
The complaint filed in federal court says Minnesota’s policies violate Title IX — the federal law that guarantees equal educational opportunities for both sexes. The DOJ argues that letting boys compete in sports designated for girls is sex discrimination.
The facts in the lawsuit are striking. One male student has pitched and batted for a girls’ varsity softball team since at least 2023. In 2025, he led his team to a championship tournament, was named to the All-Tournament Team, and set school records — all while competing against all-girl teams. The DOJ says athletes like this one displaced girls who deserved a fair shot at competition.
We have written repeatedly about how women’s athletics is at risk of being erased in America.
Letting men compete in women’s sports reverses 50 years of advancements for women. It hampers girls’ abilities to compete for athletic scholarships, and it hurts their professional opportunities as adults. In some sports, it can even be dangerous.
Concerned Women for America estimates that more than 1,900 male athletes who claim to be female have taken first place medals away from women and girls.
Arkansas has already taken great steps to protect fairness in women’s sports. In 2021, Arkansas passed Act 461 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R — Smackover) preventing male student athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school. This good law protects fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas.
Right now the U.S. Supreme Court is considering laws from West Virginia and Idaho that are similar to Act 461. If the Court rules against these protections, it could affect states like Arkansas.
That’s why Family Council joined dozens of state policy organizations and more than 200 state legislators in a legal brief in the case last September.
Girls deserve a fair playing field. That shouldn’t be controversial. It’s common sense.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
