St. Cloud Sun

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that biological males are permitted to compete in female athletics, a decision that has drawn criticism from House Speaker Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring. Demuth stated that the ruling could threaten the safety of girls and undermine fairness in sports competitions.

Earlier this year, House Republicans introduced two bills aimed at protecting female athletes and ensuring fair competition. The Preserving Girls Sports Act (H.F. 12) proposed that only female students could participate in school sports designated for women or girls. According to Demuth, polls indicate that about 80 percent of people support the bill’s position.

“For decades, women and girls fought tirelessly for the rights guaranteed under Title IX,” Demuth said. “Sadly, those hard-won protections have increasingly come under attack, and the Supreme Court’s decision marks another setback in the fight to protect girls' sports. We need to enact common-sense legislation to clarify this issue and make sure girls have safe and fair athletic competitions.”

Demuth pointed to various reports of girls being injured while competing against biological males in women’s sports, mentioning incidents such as concussions and lost teeth. She also cited a United Nations report that found female athletes globally have lost nearly 900 medals to transgender men participating in their events.

In March, House Republicans attempted to advance the Preserving Girls Sports Act, but House Democrats voted against it, tabling the bill for potential consideration in the 2026 session along with a similar proposal, H.F. 1233.

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling was issued in the case of Cooper v. USA Powerlifting. The court determined that USA Powerlifting had discriminated against a transgender athlete by barring her from women’s events, referencing the Human Rights Act. The case has been sent back to a lower court to determine whether a “competitive fairness” defense could be considered as an exception.