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Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
New Title IX investigation opened in Minnesota after trans pitcher wins girls' softball championship
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a Title IX investigation into the state of Minnesota after a transgender pitcher led Champlin Park High School to a state championship earlier this month. HHS announced the investigation on Thursday, directly citing the controversial softball situation. "The male athlete's participation was instrumental, leading the team to win the state title," the announcement read. HHS's Office of Civil Rights Paula M. Stannard insisted that the state must follow federal law, and not its current state laws that permit trans inclusion in girls' sports. "Females cannot be relegated to the sidelines under Title IX," Stannard said in the announcement. "As a recipient of Federal funds, Title IX requires Minnesota to ensure fair and safe opportunities for females to compete on sex-segregated teams – regardless of state law obligations." The state is already under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for its state laws that allow biological males in girls' sports and defy President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. That investigation was elevated to the federal Title IX investigation team, which operates in conjunction with the Department of Justice, on June 12. The state is also engaged in a pair of lawsuits over the issue, one filed by state Attorney General Keith Ellison against the Trump administration, and another filed by three anonymous girls softball players against Ellison and the state over having to compete with a trans athlete. The state also failed to pass a bill that would have barred biological males from girls' and women's sports in early March after Democrats in the state's legislature voted against it. This allowed the trans pitcher, junior Marissa Rothenberger, to have a dominant playoff run for Champlin Park. Rothenberger threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out six in the championship game Friday, capping off a run that saw Rothenberger pitch all 21 innings across three state tournament games, giving up just two runs. The organization representing the plaintiffs suing the state over its policies, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), previously provided a statement from one of the female players about her experience facing the trans athlete. "Hitting against him is not only a physical challenge but a mental, too. It's a mental battle knowing that he has an advantage in the sport that I grew up playing, making it hard to even want to hit against him. His ability to get outs and spin the ball is a strong advantage, but like I said, it's also incredibly mentally challenging knowing that you're competing against someone who has unfair advantages leaving you with little to no confidence," the player said. "This issue has affected me in ways that I never imagined. It's simply unfair, and I hate that nothing is happening to change that. Boys should not be able to take girls' spots on teams just because they are capable of doing so. I hope that more girls affected by this issue will stand up against this." The anonymous player also called out Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for aggressively defending trans inclusion in girls' sports in the state. Ellison has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice over Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order. "It's really upsetting to know that [Ellison] isn't taking rights of girls and women seriously. He is allowing boys to compete with girls, and it is not safe and completely unfair. To know that AG Ellison is in complete support of letting boys and men take advantage of females in sports is absolutely disgusting and wrong," the player added. Champlin Park's school district provided a statement to Fox News Digital defending the decision to allow the athlete to compete on the softball team. "Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law. Due to data privacy laws, the District is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student athlete," a statement from the Anoka-Hennepin School District stated. "In addition, the District is named in an active lawsuit which limits what information can be shared." Ellison's office previously released a statement responding to the lawsuit against the state over Rothenberger's participation in the girls' softball season. "In addition to getting exercise and the fun of competition, playing sports comes with so many benefits for young people. You build friendships that can last a lifetime, you learn how to work as part of a team, and you get to feel like you belong," Ellison said. "I believe it is wrong to single out one group of students, who already face higher levels of bullying and harassment, and tell these kids they cannot be on the team because of who they are. I will continue to defend the rights of all students to play sports with their friends and peers." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Education Department tags in DOJ to probe Minnesota after trans athlete helps girls' softball team win title
WASHINGTON — The Education Department has looped in the Department of Justice on its investigation of Minnesota's State High School League (MSHL) after a transgender athlete led the girls' softball team at Champlin Park High School to its first-ever state championship last week. Transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger caused rivals to cry foul after she pitched five games in a row — including all three in the Class 4A tournament — and only gave up one run in 35 innings. In the title game against Bloomington Jefferson, Rothenberger pitched a complete game shutout, striking out six and surrendering just three hits and no walks. Three female softball players from Maple Grove High School and Farmington High School have filed a lawsuit against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, arguing that Champlin Park gained an unfair advantage with Rothenberger able to shoulder the pitching load in a way that a biological female could not. Advertisement The investigation of the MSHL and the Minnesota Education Department will be carried out by a newly established Title IX Special Investigations Team, comprised of both Education Departmetn and Justice Department personnel and meant to enforce President Trump's February executive order to 'keep men out of women's sports.' If found to be noncompliant, both organizations risk losing all federal funding. 3 Linda McMahon, Secretary of The Department of Education, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2025. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images Advertisement 'Minnesota's continued indifference to females' civil rights is completely unacceptable,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement announcing the elevated investigation. 'We must ensure women and girls are not stripped of their hard-earned accolades or subjected to the danger and indignity of unfair competitions, and we will fight to restore antidiscrimination protections under Title IX to the fullest extent of the law.' 3 Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. AP 3 Champlin Park High School in Minnesota. Google Maps Advertisement But supporters of including trans athletes in women's sports point to the MSHL allowing their inclusion since 2014. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has stood behind transgender competition in girls' sports, telling the Independent last month 'it's a mistake' for the party to abandon the issue. 'Here's the thing,' he said, 'we need to tell people your cost of eggs, your health care being denied, your homeowner's insurance, your lack of getting warning on tornadoes coming has nothing to do with someone's gender.' The MSHL and the Minnesota Education Department did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Post.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympian Simone Biles slams anti-trans activist Riley Gaines: Here's why they are clashing over transwomen in sports
The Minnesota State High School Softball Championship became a national flashpoint when Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender girl and star pitcher for Champlin Park High School, led her team to a dominant 6–0 win in the Class 4A title game. Her standout performance, which included seven shutout innings and two doubles, reignited the national debate surrounding transgender participation in women's sports. Minnesota's 2015 policy allowing transgender athletes to play in alignment with their gender identity has long been controversial. But Rothenberger's success in a high-profile championship, just months after a federal executive order sought to ban transgender girls from girls' and women's sports, brought the issue to national attention. The victory set off a social media firestorm, culminating in a bitter and highly public feud between former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles . Minnesota's policy: Transgender's participation under fire Marissa Rothenberger began transitioning at age nine and was cleared to play under the Minnesota State High School League's guidelines. These rules allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity after undergoing a review process. Her teammates and coaches praised her performance and resilience, but her participation quickly became a focal point for critics of transgender inclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo A lawsuit filed in May 2025 by the advocacy group Female Athletes United argues that Rothenberger's inclusion violates Title IX, which bars sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. Plaintiffs in the case allege that cisgender female athletes lost opportunities due to Rothenberger's presence, including one who reportedly missed a chance to advance to the state tournament and another who suffered an injury from a fast pitch. Riley Gaines responds: 'When your star player is a boy' you win Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who has become one of the most vocal critics of transgender participation in women's sports, responded swiftly to Champlin Park High School's state championship win. She framed the outcome as yet another example of biological males dominating girls' sports, arguing that the inclusion of Marissa Rothenberger compromised the fairness of the competition. Gaines also took aim at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for supporting the state's transgender inclusion policy, accusing him of failing to protect the rights and opportunities of cisgender female athletes. She further criticized the team for turning off public comments on their championship post, implying it was an attempt to silence backlash over Rothenberger's gender identity. In a widely circulated comment, Gaines remarked, 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,' underscoring her stance that allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports undermines integrity and transparency. Her activism is deeply rooted in her personal experience at the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she tied with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. While both finished with identical times, Thomas was awarded the fifth-place trophy, a decision Gaines has since cited as symbolic of what she sees as the disadvantages faced by female athletes in the current landscape. Simone Biles defends inclusivity Simone Biles responded strongly to Gaines's remarks, condemning her for using past trauma for political arguments. Biles accused Gaines of being a sore loser and suggested that her campaign against transgender athletes was rooted more in personal resentment than genuine concern. Biles called for more inclusive solutions, such as developing new categories or structures that could allow transgender athletes to compete fairly and safely. Biles emphasized that the well-being and mental health of all athletes should be prioritized and argued that inclusivity and fairness do not need to be mutually exclusive. Her stance, shaped by her own experience of abuse and advocacy for athlete protection, emphasized creating safe and respectful environments for everyone in sports. The Nassar Controversy The controversy escalated when Gaines drew a comparison between transgender inclusion and the sexual abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. She referenced Simone Biles's advocacy for inclusion and contrasted it with Biles's history as a survivor of Nassar's abuse. Gaines suggested that Biles's support for policies allowing transgender women in locker rooms conflicted with her previous efforts to speak out against sexual exploitation in sports. Riley Gaines shared a video of Simone Biles testifying about surviving Larry Nassar's sexual abuse alongside Biles' recent tweet criticizing Gaines, with the text "Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men," suggesting inconsistency in Biles' stance on athlete safety regarding transgender inclusion. The post, with over 1 million views, drew mixed reactions, with critics like @NebsGoodTakes calling it "evil" for exploiting Biles' trauma, while supporters like @ValentinaForUSA found Biles' support for transgender inclusion "astonishing" given her Nassar experience. Gaines clarified her position, hoping Nassar "rots in prison" and arguing both Nassar's abuse and transgender inclusion threaten female athletes, but the post's sensitivity has intensified the debate over fairness and inclusivity in sports. The reference to Nassar hit a nerve because it reopened wounds from one of the most horrifying abuse scandals in sports history. Larry Nassar, the longtime team doctor for USA Gymnastics and a physician at Michigan State University, sexually abused more than 300 girls and young women under the guise of medical treatment. Despite multiple reports over decades, institutions failed to act, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked. The scandal came to light in 2016, and in the years that followed, top athletes like Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Jamie Dantzscher gave powerful testimony about how a culture of silence and institutional protection enabled Nassar's crimes. His case exposed how sports organizations had prioritized medals and reputation over athlete safety. Legal and social ramifications The ongoing lawsuit in Minnesota could become a pivotal legal case as it challenges the long-standing policy of transgender inclusion at the state level. Female Athletes United is demanding changes that would prohibit transgender girls from participating in girls' sports and retroactively adjust records where they believe competitive integrity was compromised. On social media, reactions have been highly polarized. Supporters of Gaines continue to argue that allowing transgender athletes creates an unfair advantage and diminishes opportunities for cisgender girls. Others, like supporters of Biles, stress the need to support transgender youth and argue that inclusion can be achieved while still respecting the integrity of competition. The Minnesota softball championship has become a defining moment in the escalating debate over gender identity and fairness in school sports. At the core of the controversy is a growing concern among female athletes and advocates like Riley Gaines, who argue that the integrity of girls' sports is being compromised. For them, allowing biologically male athletes to compete in female categories threatens the level playing field Title IX was meant to protect. Gaines and others are calling for clear boundaries to ensure that cisgender girls retain equal opportunities, scholarships, and safety in competition. As Marissa Rothenberger's dominant performance reignites national attention, many believe it is time to prioritize fairness over ideology and protect the spaces originally created for women and girls.
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Trans softballer hits 2 doubles, pitches complete game to send team to Minnesota state championship for first time
A controversial high school softball team has made the Minnesota state championships for the first time after their star transgender pitcher smashed two doubles and pitched a complete game in a walk-off win. Trans athlete Melissa Rothenberger's performance helped her Champlin Park team beat White Bear Lake 3-2 on Wednesday, leading a girl on the losing team to cry and ask her father, 'Why can't you do something?' according to OutKick. Rothenberger, a junior, went 2-3 at the plate for Champlin Park, sparking her team's comeback victory after falling behind 2-0 and sending them to the Group 4A state championship Friday. Advertisement 'She's always clutch,' Champlin Park coach Bryan Woodley told Twin Cities Pioneer Press after the semi-finals win. 'I think she's the best centerfielder in the state. She's just a great all-around player.' Marissa Rothenberger pitched a complete game and hit 2 doubles in Wednesday night's win. Two fathers of girls on the White Bear Lake team told Outkick they were frustrated that their daughters were forced to compete against a biological male. Advertisement One said that players' parents regretted voting for Minnesota Democrats who've allowed the youth athletic system to operate this way. 'You're looking at a whole team of future Republicans,' one dad said. Champlin Park will play in its first-ever state championship game Friday night. Amber Harding The Minnesota State High School League [MSHSL] permits students to compete under gender identity, despite President Trump's executive order barring all biological men from women's sports. Advertisement The league has said that the inclusion of trans athletes is protected and 'determined by state law, through the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Minnesota Constitution,' Outkick reported. While national governing sports organizations such as USA Softball and the NCAA have implemented female-only policies in women's sports, state-level laws have created loopholes that allow trans athletes to participate.
