Four former high school track stars urge court to ban trans athletes from ... trends now
Four female athletes who are taking legal action over a Connecticut policy which allows biological males to compete in women's sporting events have described the 'emotional and psychological stress' they suffered through the policy.
The track and field athletes - Chelsea Mitchell, Selina Soule, Alanna Smith and Ashley Nicoletti - are spearheading a legal fight for Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference to reverse its policy.
They say that because of the rule which allows biological males to compete against females, their sporting records were harmed and they lost out on future opportunities.
The women say they 'have been denied medals, placements or advancement opportunities because of the male athletes competing in our events'.
'Our records of athletic achievement during our high school years competing in track and field should have stayed on our resume and with us for life — opening doors for higher education, leadership, employment, and personal fulfillment,' they wrote in an opinion piece published by Fox.
Chelsea Mitchell (pictured), along with Selina Soule, Alanna Smith and Ashley Nicoletti, are spearheading a legal fight for Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference to reverse a policy that allows trans women to compete in women's sporting events
Alanna Smith (left) and Ashley Nicoletti, two of the four former high school track and field stars who are embroiled in a court fight to overturn a Connecticut rule that lets trans women compete in women's sporting events
Selina Soule and the other women campaigning against Connecticut's rule say it left have described the 'emotional and psychological stress' they suffered through the policy
'But sadly, for the four of us, our records were tarnished, our accomplishments reduced and our opportunities diminished.'
The women add: 'CIAC must amend its policy to preserve fairness and equality, so no other girl will have to suffer the emotional and psychological distress and anxiety, we experienced from being forced to compete on an unfair playing field.'
Their case was launched in 2019 and previously dismissed by a panel of federal judges which said Connecticut's policy did not clearly fall within the scope of Title IX.
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at institutions which receive federal assistance, which covers the vast majority of educational institutions.
The four athletes, who are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, are appealing the earlier ruling and have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to let the case move forward.
John Bursch, ADF Senior
