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Oregon Female Athletes Drop Lawsuit Against OSAA Over Transgender Competition Policy

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 6:53 GMT by katu

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Oregon Female Athletes Drop Lawsuit Against OSAA Over Transgender Competition Policy

In a surprising turn of events that has drawn national attention, a group of female high‑school athletes in Oregon has dropped the lawsuit they had filed against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA). The suit, which had alleged that OSAA’s policy allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ teams violated Title IX and the Fourteenth Amendment, was withdrawn after the association and the plaintiffs reached a settlement that the athletes deemed satisfactory.

The decision was announced on Monday, March 6, 2025, at a press conference held at the OSAA headquarters in Salem. “We believe we have found a way forward that respects the rights of all students, both trans and cisgender,” said spokesperson Amanda Hill of the plaintiffs’ group, which is made up of 12 female athletes who had filed the suit in April 2023. “We will no longer pursue the legal action, and we thank OSAA for engaging in a constructive dialogue.”

The Legal Challenge: Who Was Involved and What They Claimed?

The lawsuit was filed on April 22, 2023, by a coalition of female athletes from four Oregon high schools: Lakeview High, Jefferson Middle, West Valley, and Ponderosa. They argued that OSAA’s 2022 policy, which permits transgender girls to compete on girls’ teams after a physician’s certification and a 12‑month period of transition, “creates an uneven playing field and undermines the safety and competitive fairness of girls’ sports.” Their case cited the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, asserting that discrimination against transgender individuals is prohibited under Title IX. They claimed that OSAA’s policy effectively sanctioned unfair advantages.

In addition to the civil suit, the plaintiffs pursued a declaratory judgment that OSAA’s policy was unlawful. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. The plaintiffs sought injunctive relief and monetary damages, and they called on the federal government to enforce Title IX protections in the realm of high‑school athletics.

OSAA’s Response and Policy Revision

OSAA, a private, non‑profit association that governs interscholastic sports for more than 2,500 schools across Oregon, responded to the lawsuit in June 2023. The association issued a press release outlining its policy, which had been drafted in collaboration with medical professionals, legal counsel, and school administrators. OSAA emphasized that its policy “promotes inclusivity while maintaining fairness and safety for all athletes.” The policy requires:

• A certified physician to attest that the athlete is a transgender female and has completed at least 12 months of hormone therapy, if applicable.
• An age threshold of 12 years old for participation in girls’ sports.
• Regular reviews by a designated medical professional to ensure continued eligibility.

OSAA’s policy was grounded in the state’s Title IX compliance guidelines and in the federal Department of Justice’s guidance on transgender student rights, which was issued in 2021. In its reply to the lawsuit, OSAA argued that the policy was lawful, citing the Supreme Court’s Bostock decision and the Department of Justice’s 2021 memorandum stating that the federal government is not required to regulate private associations that administer school athletics.

Settlement and the Decision to Drop the Suit

After several months of negotiations, OSAA and the plaintiffs reached a settlement that was finalized on February 28, 2025. Key components of the settlement include:

1. Policy Adjustment: OSAA will adopt a revised policy that introduces a “gender-neutral” competitive track for trans athletes, allowing them to compete in separate divisions or tournaments that are open to all gender identities. This is in line with a model adopted by the California Interscholastic Federation in 2024.

2. Financial Compensation: OSAA will provide a one‑time payment of $120,000 to the plaintiffs, funded by the OSAA’s equity pool. The payment covers legal fees and is contingent on the plaintiffs’ commitment to drop the lawsuit.

3. Athlete Support: The association will fund a series of workshops for coaches, teachers, and students on gender identity, inclusion, and anti‑bullying. These workshops will be delivered by a partnership with the Oregon Human Rights Commission.

4. Transparency Measures: OSAA will publish annual reports on its compliance with Title IX and the demographic breakdown of participation in its athletic programs.

In a statement released on the settlement day, OSAA’s president, Dr. Daniel Rivera, said, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that protects the rights and safety of all student‑athletes. The settlement allows us to move forward with a more inclusive, fair, and transparent framework for high‑school sports in Oregon.”

Why the Lawsuit Was Dropped

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Lisa Nguyen, explained that the settlement satisfied the group’s primary goals. “We were concerned about fairness, safety, and the well‑being of all athletes,” Nguyen said. “The revised policy gives us a concrete path to ensure that cisgender female athletes can compete on a level playing field, while also respecting the rights of trans athletes.”

Hill, who had been a lead plaintiff, emphasized that the decision was a “win‑win” for Oregon’s high‑school community. “We believe that this approach will reduce tension, prevent future litigation, and promote a healthier athletic environment for all students,” she said. “We also appreciate the OSAA’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue rather than fight in court.”

Broader Context: A National Debate on Transgender Participation

The OSAA lawsuit and settlement is part of a broader national conversation that has intensified over the past decade. Other states—such as California, Washington, and New York—have faced similar lawsuits and have adopted varying policies, ranging from strict eligibility criteria to fully inclusive “gender‑neutral” divisions. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued guidance on Title IX compliance for transgender students, emphasizing that schools must avoid discrimination but can also maintain fairness in sports competition.

In the federal arena, the Supreme Court has yet to decide a case that would establish a definitive standard for transgender participation in interscholastic athletics. While the Bostock decision in 2020 affirmed that discrimination based on gender identity is prohibited under Title IX, the Court has not addressed how that principle applies to sports. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice’s 2021 memorandum has been a touchstone for many state associations, and the policy debate continues to evolve.

Future Implications for Oregon Schools

The OSAA’s settlement sets a new precedent for how private sports associations can address the complex intersection of Title IX, trans rights, and athletic fairness. Schools across Oregon will now have a clear framework that:

• Provides a separate track for trans athletes, potentially reducing the number of mixed‑gender competition incidents.
• Ensures that the policies are medically grounded and regularly reviewed, in line with best practices.
• Offers educational resources to foster an inclusive climate.

For high‑school coaches, the changes mean that roster decisions will now incorporate an additional layer of documentation, but also an opportunity to discuss gender identity with students in a supportive context. The OSAA has announced a “coach certification” program to address the new policy.

Students—both cisgender and transgender—will likely experience a shift in how teams are composed and how competitions are organized. Early reports from schools that have implemented the new policy in pilot programs suggest that the transition is smooth, with minimal disruptions to team dynamics. However, the OSAA acknowledges that continuous monitoring and feedback will be critical.

Conclusion

The dropping of the lawsuit by Oregon’s female athletes against the OSAA marks a significant moment in the evolving landscape of high‑school sports and transgender inclusion. By reaching a settlement that balances the rights and safety of all students, the OSAA has charted a path forward that may serve as a model for other states grappling with similar issues. The new policy, though not without its challenges, represents a concerted effort to create a more equitable and respectful athletic environment—an outcome that both the athletes and the OSAA now see as a victory for Oregon’s scholastic community.