DOJ withdraws from federal lawsuit claiming unfair competition from transgender athletes in high school track racing



The Department of Justice withdrew their support of a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn a state policy in Connecticut that allows transgender athletes to race in women's track competitions.

The lawsuit by several female runners claimed that they had been deprived of wins, state titles and athletic opportunities because they were unfairly competing against transgender runners who were biologically male.

The Department of Justice under the previous administration had filed a statement of interest in the lawsuit in March in support of the lawsuit to change the policies of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. William Barr, the Attorney General at the time, argued that the unfair competition violated Title X, which defends equal opportunities for females.

On Tuesday, that statement was withdrawn.

Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham and other officials said in a statement that the "government has reconsidered the matter."

The CIAC has argued that it is following guidance from state law that says students should be accommodated according to their preferred gender identity.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, who filed the federal complaint, argued that the CIAC is violating the equal rights of the female athletes.

"Girls deserve to compete on a level playing field. Forcing female athletes to compete against boys is grossly unfair and destroys their athletic opportunities," said ADF legal counsel Christiana Holcomb.

"Now when we line up in front of our blocks, and the starter calls us to get into position, we all know how the race will end. We can't win," said Selena Soule, one of the female athletes charging discrimination.

Robin McHealen, the executive director of LGBT rights group True Colors, criticized the lawsuit.

"What they are proposing is legally sanctioned discrimination under this lawsuit," said McHealen.

Here's more about the transgender lawsuit:

VIDEO: 3 CT high school girls track athletes file suit after transgender girls win their eventswww.youtube.com

Joe Biden appears to imply that children as young as 8 should be able to change their genders



Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden appeared at a Thursday night town hall event where he spoke to the parent of a transgender daughter about rights in the U.S.

During his discussion, Biden seemed to suggest that a child should be able to change their gender if they decided it was something they wanted to do.

What are the details?

During the town hall event, the mother of a transgender child asked Biden how he would protect the LGBTQ community if he were elected president.

According to CBS News, Mieke Haeck, parent of a transgender child, asked Biden, "The Trump administration has attacked the rights of transgender people, banning them from military service, weakening nondiscriminatory protections, and even removing the word 'transgender' from some government websites."

"How will you, as president, reverse this dangerous and discriminatory agenda and ensure that the lives and rights of LGBTQ people are protected?" Haeck concluded.

Biden, in response, said he would "flat-out change the law."

"I would just flat-out change the law," he said. "I would eliminate [Trump's] executive orders, number one."

The Democratic nominee also highlighted a story from his childhood, where he said he witnessed a gay couple kissing and embracing. Biden said he recalled his father very simply explaining the show of affection between the two men.

"You may recall I'm the guy who said, uh, I was raised by a man who — I remember I was being dropped off, my dad was a high school-educated, well-read man who was a really decent guy, and I was being dropped off to get an application in the center of our city, Bloomington, Delaware, the corporate capital of the world at the time," Biden said during the event. "And these two men — I'm getting out to get an application to be a lifeguard in the African-American community because there was a big swimming pool complex — and, uh, these two men, well dressed, leaned up and hugged one another and kissed one another, and I'm getting out of the car at the light and I turned to my dad, and my dad looked at me and said, 'Joey, it's simple, they love each other.'"

Biden also said that Haeck's daughter should not suffer any discrimination for who she is.

"The idea that an 8-year-old child or a 10-year-old child decides, 'You know, I decided I want to be transgender, that's what I think I'd like to be. It'd make my life a lot easier.' There should be zero discrimination," Biden said. "And what's happening is too many transgender women of color are being murdered. They're being murdered."

The idea that an 8 year old child or a 10 year old decides "You know I wanna be transgender," should be zero discri… https://t.co/GlLOQeZxIh
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