In November, 130 Democratic members of Congress backed an amicus brief supporting two transgender athletes involved in lawsuits before the U.S. Supreme Court. These lawsuits seek to challenge laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prevent biological males from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. The Supreme Court is set to begin hearing the case on January 13th.
One of the plaintiffs, a transgender teenager from West Virginia, has been accused of sexually harassing a former female teammate and intimidating other female competitors, according to a report from FOX News Digital.
Fox News Digital reached out to various Democratic lawmakers who signed the brief to inquire whether they would maintain their support in light of the allegations, but so far, no responses have been received.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among the high-profile Democrats who have signed the brief alongside other notable figures. Some lawmakers, including Senators Maisie Hirono and Edward Markey, also did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding their stance on the allegations.
This 130-member group has faced significant backlash on social media since the allegations surfaced. Erika Donald, spouse of Rep. Byron Donald (R-Florida), highlighted the allegations in a post that named all members of Congress who signed the brief. The conservative group, American Principles Project, also criticized these lawmakers and emphasized the seriousness of the accusations.
The amicus brief argues that the prohibitive laws from West Virginia and Idaho undermine the rights of transgender students, asserting that “all students are entitled to equal access” in educational environments. Sen. Hirono remarked that banning transgender students from sports not only harms them but also subjects women and girls to discrimination.
Two West Virginia schoolgirls have come forward with allegations about one of the transgender plaintiffs ahead of oral arguments. The accused transgender athlete is linked to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and due to being a minor, Fox News Digital has opted not to disclose her name.
One of the girls, Adalia Cross, claims the transgender athlete directed sexually suggestive comments towards her in the locker room, leading her to quit track to avoid further discomfort. Cross’s mother reported these comments to the school, but according to her, no actions were taken.
The ACLU stated that the allegations were investigated and found to be unsubstantiated, but the Cross family contests this, stressing that their child faced significant distress and had to leave sports as a result.
Emmy Salerno, another former athlete, alleged that she faced intimidation after refusing to compete against the transgender athlete during a sporting event. Salerno alleged incidents of intense scrutiny from her peers and felt particularly uncomfortable at a basketball game when the transgender athlete followed her.
Salerno reported her feelings of intimidation to her father and expressed concern for her safety. Despite her apprehensions, she chose to avoid direct confrontation and planned not to compete against transgender athletes moving forward, seeking to prevent penalization for her team.
Overall, the situation continues to evolve as stakeholders navigate the complexities surrounding sports, gender identity, and accusations of misconduct.
