West Virginia Transgender Student Allegations Lead to Supreme Court Case

Two high school students from West Virginia and their families have accused a transgender male student of sexual harassment and intimidation, allegations that are at the center of a lawsuit to be considered by the Supreme Court on January 13th.

The case, State of West Virginia vs. BPJ, originated from a lawsuit filed by the mother of Becky Pepper Jackson, a transgender student challenging a state law that restricts males from participating in female sports. A lower court has suspended the law during the appeal process. Now, West Virginia seeks clarification from the Supreme Court on whether Title IX allows states to categorize sports teams based on biological sex and if such a law breaches the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Adeia Cross, a student at Bridgeport High School, reportedly shared a track team with Jackson when both attended Bridgeport Middle School. In an interview, she claimed that Jackson made inappropriate comments towards her in the women’s locker room, which she felt were sexually harassing. While Fox News decided not to disclose Jackson’s name due to his age, it has been widely recognized in media reports.

Cross, a year older than Jackson, mentioned that he left the Bridgeport High track team last year because he did not want to share a locker room with Jackson any longer. Cross’s mother, Abby, asserted that Jackson had made threatening and sexual remarks during the 2022-23 school year when they were both in middle school.

According to Abby, Adelia recounted instances where Jackson expressed sexually explicit intentions towards her and other girls. The family claimed to have reported these remarks to the school but noted that no action was taken.

The ACLU, representing Jackson, has stated that both Jackson and his mother deny the allegations, with the school district concluding after an investigation that the claims were unfounded.

In a statement, the ACLU emphasized its commitment to the rights of all students under Title IX, advocating for a safe and inclusive educational environment free of harassment or discrimination.

Jackson Thompson, a reporter for Fox News Digital, indicated he has sought documentation regarding the alleged investigation from both the ACLU and the Harrison County School District but has not received any response.

An attorney from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing the Kloss family, responded to the ACLU’s assertions, saying that their client has testified under oath about the incidents involving Jackson.

The ADF highlighted that as a result of this situation, Cross had to abandon a sport she loved and give up significant aspects of her school life for her safety.

In related developments, another former middle school athlete, Emmy Salerno, alleged that Jackson used tactics of intimidation against her after she refused to compete against him during the spring 2024 season. Salerno and her peers boycotted a shot put competition, claiming that afterward, their team faced disqualification.

Salerno mentioned feeling uncomfortable due to Jackson’s behavior, which included intense staring at public events. She expressed that after an incident at a basketball game where Jackson followed her, she felt fearful of a potential confrontation.

Salerno and her father characterized Jackson’s social media posts and behavior as intimidation, creating ongoing discomfort for her.

Efforts to reach the ACLU for comments regarding Salerno’s claims have reportedly gone unanswered.