Family Sues Over Alleged Assault During Wrestling Match
A family from Washington state has initiated legal action against various government officials, claiming that their daughter was sexually assaulted by a transgender male athlete during a women’s wrestling event.
The defendants in this case include the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Lakeda, the Puyallup School District, and several school officials. Importantly, transgender athletes and their families are not part of the lawsuit.
The plaintiff, who is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), is referred to in court documents as KMK, though they are believed to be Callie Keeler, a high school student in Washington. Keeler spoke about her experience on “The Brandy Kruse Show” earlier this February, detailing the alleged assault by a transgender athlete during a match.
Commenting on the incident, ADF Senior Advisor Kate Anderson stated, “A 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted due to political cowardice, with Washington authorities prioritizing gender ideology over the safety and privacy of young women.” She emphasized the need to end biological misconceptions, warning that failure to do so would leave girls vulnerable to future assaults. The ADF is asking the court to mandate changes in state policies to ensure the safety and privacy of female athletes. Specifically, they argue that parents should be informed whenever their daughters are set to compete against male opponents.
Anderson pointed out that, tragically, due to district policies, Keeler’s mother was unable to protect her daughter during the incident because parents were prohibited from being notified when female athletes faced male competitors. After reporting the incident to school authorities, Keeler and her mother found their concerns were largely ignored for nearly two months. The ADF claims that while Washington State has failed this family, there is still an opportunity to protect other girls through policy changes.
The legal action argues that the WIAA, the state education authority, and the Puyallup School District violated KMK’s rights by allowing male athletes identifying as female to participate in women’s sports without informing female athletes or their parents.
The complaint asserts that these policies led to KMK unknowingly wrestling a male opponent at a tournament, where she alleges she was sexually assaulted. Following the incident, authorities reportedly did not respond appropriately to the allegations of assault.
From a legal standpoint, the plaintiffs contend this situation comprises violations of Title IX, as it denies girls a fair opportunity to compete safely. They also argue that it has created a hostile educational environment, as the school district allegedly neglected to address the assault and subsequent hostility toward KMK. Furthermore, the complaint asserts a violation of parental rights, given that Keeler’s mother was not informed about the situation in time to take action.
The U.S. Department of Education has started investigating the Puyallup School District due to the allegations.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Ritchie described the circumstances as deeply troubling, noting that female athletes were unknowingly pitted against male opponents, increasing their risk of sexual assault. She accused the Puyallup School District of prioritizing ideological goals over student safety and dignity. Ritchie reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to enforcing Title IX to ensure that allegations of sexual assault are handled swiftly and thoroughly.
In light of this ongoing investigation, a statement from the Puyallup School District acknowledged awareness of the allegations but stated it could not comment further due to privacy issues and potential legal proceedings.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the WIAA and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for further statements.
