Colorado School District Abolishes Anti-Discrimination Policy for LGBT, Aims to Join Anti-Transgender Legal Action
Colorado School District Joins Lawsuit Over Transgender Athlete Participation
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Montezuma-Cortez School District in Colorado has decided to join a multi-district lawsuit led by District 49 in Colorado Springs. The lawsuit seeks to overturn policies that protect transgender athletes' rights to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
The decision by the Montezuma-Cortez district follows a mid-2025 policy change, where the district removed language on sexual orientation and gender identity from its nondiscrimination policy. This move signals a shift against LGBTQ protections locally.
The district, along with other districts and charter schools, aims to be co-plaintiffs challenging policies that allow transgender girls to compete in girls' sports teams. Board members and local representatives argue from the perspective of "protecting" cisgender girls, expressing concerns about potential physical disadvantages or injury risks.
However, legal experts note that federal anti-discrimination law and Colorado state law include protections for LGBTQ individuals that supersede local school district policies. Yet, these districts argue against such protections in school athletics, reflecting broader political tensions and concerns about funding linked to LGBTQ policy support.
It's important to note that there is no nationwide data confirming the number of transgender girls competing in school sports or the incidence of injuries related to transgender participation.
The lawsuit, led by District 49, aims for a broader blanket ban on transgender participation in school sports. The Montezuma-Cortez school district is seeking to be a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Colorado High School Activities Association.
Some board members believe changes in policy are necessary to protect the district from potential legal action. Residents like Cayce Hamerschlag have accused the board of denying rights to a select class of students without any apparent legal purpose. Emily Christenson, a parent, expressed concern about the removal of certain terms from the policy, stating that it sends an unfortunate message of condoning harassment.
Protests against the changes in the district's nondiscrimination policy have been reported. Sherri Wright, an official representing western and southern Colorado on the State Board of Education, expressed concern about the potential risk of injury to cisgender girls when competing against transgender athletes.
Mike Lynch, a board member, suggested that President Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from districts that support certain previously protected classes like sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. However, Lynch later corrected himself, stating that Trump has yet to strike protections with respect to sexual orientation.
Lynch added that groups that are already entitled to discrimination-related protections do not all need to be explicitly named in district policies. If a policy covers discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, it is assumed to cover it, according to Lynch.
In a controversial suggestion, Hamerschlag proposed that the board's slogan should be changed from "Every Student. Every Day." to "Certain Students. Some days." in light of the policy changes.
This developing story underscores the ongoing debate about transgender rights and equal opportunities in school sports. As the lawsuit progresses, it will be interesting to see how the courts interpret these complex issues.
The Montezuma-Cortez School District's involvement in a lawsuit challenging transgender athletes' rights to compete aligns with their removal of protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, signaling a move towards education-and-self-development and politics that are divisive. The lawsuit, if successful, could lead to general-news headlines about altered school sports participation policies.
