High School Wrestler Sues Over Alleged Assault by Transgender Opponent
A female high school wrestler has initiated legal action, claiming she was sexually assaulted by a transgender competitor during a state tournament. The suit also alleges that officials failed to inform her of her opponent’s biological sex.
Callie Keeler, a sophomore from Rogers High School in Puyallup, Washington, contends that her transgender opponent digitally assaulted her during a match. She and her mother, who recorded the event in December, filed a 74-page lawsuit this week.
At the time, a 15-year-old Keeler reportedly shouted to her mother on the sidelines, “His fingers are inside me!” while attempting to stop the assault, as stated in the lawsuit.
The Keelers, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), later discovered that the individual involved was a biological male, which left them feeling “violated yet again.”
According to the complaint, Keeler’s mother reported the incident to school officials with supporting video evidence, but their concerns were dismissed.
Almost two months later, media coverage prompted the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office to get involved, which missed the state’s 48-hour reporting deadline for suspected sexual assaults.
Last week, prosecutors chose not to proceed with the case, claiming they could not meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The lawsuit targets the Washington State Interdisciplinary Activities Association, along with various state and school officials. The transgender athlete and his family are not named in the lawsuit.
The WIAA permits participation in sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex, and state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.
Kate Anderson, Senior Counsel at ADF, stated that the situation exemplifies the serious repercussions of misinformation regarding biological sex. They request the court to compel state officials to modify policies to safeguard female athletes in their sports.
Keeler exited the wrestling scene following the incident and the lawsuit aims to ensure “no one else has to go through this.” A prominent figure, JK Rowling, criticized the allegations, calling them “horrifying” and demanding accountability from those who support allowing men to compete in women’s sports.
A spokesperson for the Puyallup school district informed a news outlet that they were aware of the allegations but couldn’t comment further due to privacy concerns and impending legal proceedings.
