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Two teenage transgender athletes from New Hampshire are pursuing legal action against the Trump administration regarding their rights to participate in girls’ sports, citing recent legislative changes that they believe discriminate against them.
The teenagers, 16-year-old Parker Tirrell and 15-year-old Iris Turmelle, both biological males, have been part of girls sports teams at their respective high schools. They, along with their families, initiated a lawsuit last year challenging New Hampshire’s law that bans transgender athletes from competing in girls sports.
Following an executive order signed by President Trump in February, which instituted a nationwide ban on transgender athletes in girls sports, a federal judge allowed for the addition of the Trump administration as a defendant in the ongoing case.
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Tirrell has been a member of the girls soccer team at Plymouth Regional High School during the fall season. “I feel singled out by lawmakers and the Trump administration, as if I’m not allowed to exist,” he shared. “Their actions don’t deter me; I will continue to live my life as I am.”
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Turmelle, who competes for Pembroke Academy, expressed a desire to join girls tennis and track teams. In her remarks, she emphasized the humanity of transgender individuals, stating, “We’re not anything other than human, trying to live our lives just like everyone else.” She further discussed her experience with the softball team, highlighting that her exclusion from the team raises questions about fairness in sports.
On September 10, federal Judge Landya McCafferty, appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued a preliminary injunction, allowing Tirrell to participate in soccer at his school despite the state law prohibiting trans athletes from joining girls sports teams.
Prior to the executive order, New Hampshire already had laws in place, making it one of 25 states with restrictions on the participation of transgender individuals in school sports.
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The attorneys for Tirrell and Turmelle contend that Trump’s actions, along with guidelines from a January executive order preventing federal funds from supporting “gender ideology,” violate the equal protection rights of transgender individuals under federal law and Title IX regulations.
Chris Erchull, a lawyer with GLAD, commented on the broader implications of such policies, expressing concern over the impact on transgender youth: “Targeting young people in schools, depriving them of support during formative years, is particularly tragic.”
In addition to the case involving Tirrell and Turmelle, there has been a separate lawsuit filed by parents who wore wristbands inscribed with “XX” to signify female chromosomes at a school soccer game. They allege they were unlawfully banned from the event for their actions, which they claim were intended to support their daughters rather than serve as a protest against Tirrell.
The ongoing legal battles reflect a contentious socio-political environment regarding transgender rights in sports, particularly at the youth level. The ramifications of these cases may set precedent for future regulations and inclusivity in sports.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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