Oregon is facing its second legal challenge this month over its policy allowing biologically male transgender athletes to compete in girls’ high school sports.
Track and field athletes Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard have filed a lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) following a viral moment on May 31, when the pair refused to stand on the medal podium with a transgender competitor during the state championship meet.
The protest made headlines after video footage showed the girls stepping away from the podium. Anderson later told Fox News that event officials instructed them to move aside so they wouldn’t appear in the official photographs.
The lawsuit, filed with support from the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), claims that OSAA officials not only excluded the girls from event photos but also withheld their medals in retaliation. The complaint argues this violated their First Amendment rights.
“I recently competed against a biological male at my state track and field meet,” Anderson said. “Another girl and I decided to step down from the podium in protest of the unfair competition environment. I’m fighting to keep women’s sports XX—so future generations of girls have a safe and fair opportunity to succeed.”
AFPI’s general counsel, Jessica Hart Steinmann, defended the athletes’ actions.
“These young women earned their place on that podium—and the right to express themselves,” Steinmann said. “Instead of respecting their viewpoint that girls’ sports should be for girls only, Oregon officials chose to sideline them. The First Amendment protects dissent—even when school officials disagree.”
Second Lawsuit from Oregon Athletes Gains Momentum
AFPI is also representing two other Oregon high school athletes, Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter, in a separate lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Education. Their case challenges statewide policies that permit biological males to compete in girls’ sports.
Carpenter and Eischen say they felt compelled to withdraw from an April 18 track meet due to the presence of a transgender competitor.
“For Sophia, the psychological and emotional weight of that moment became overwhelming,” the lawsuit states. “She felt helpless, demoralized, and betrayed by the adults and institutions responsible for ensuring fair competition. She ultimately withdrew from her event.”
Eischen described the experience as “traumatic.”
“My experience at the Chehalem meet and scratching myself from the event was something I never imagined,” she said. “It’s something that’s going to stick with me.”
Carpenter echoed the sentiment, saying she was overwhelmed and cried on the ride home. Despite fears of retaliation, both girls say they’re committed to moving forward with the case, hoping to spark change in school sports policy across the nation.
The OSAA has not yet responded to the lawsuits.
