An Update Concerning CIAC

I've previously written here about Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, a legal case concerning the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference ("Competition, The Law, and CIAC", January 4). 

To briefly describe the case, CIAC's current policy is that high school student-athletes are allowed to compete based on their "gender identity".  That is, someone that was born male can compete in "girls sports" simply by claiming to be a female.  The associated lawsuit seeks to compel CIAC to prohibit this identity-based participation (1, 2).  

This past weekend, US District Court Judge Robert Chatigny dismissed the above case, saying that due to graduation of the female students involved, there is "no dispute to resolve" (3).   

Never mind that what CIAC is doing violates the federal law known as "Title IX".  Never mind that the judge in this case was completely biased towards the defense (as his order declaring that defense witnesses must be referred to as "transgender females" makes clear) (4).  And never mind that the ruling clearly harmed the plaintiffs, and will continue to harm female student-athletes in this state for at least the near future.  

Basically, the Court has decided that CIAC is free to violate the law, and to do as it pleases.  This effectively means that there is no longer any purpose for female high school athletics in Connecticut.  Allow me to explain this.  

It is a scientific fact that, due to physiological differences between the genders, a female has almost no shot to beat a male in athletic competition (2).  Thus, by allowing identity-based participation, CIAC is denying girls to have a fair chance for their own success (athletically speaking).  After all, what good is it to participate in sports, only to constantly lose? And what purpose does that serve, if any? Some may not realize this, but "you play to win the game", not simply "to play it" (5).  

Fortunately, this case by no means appears to be over.  Lawyers for the plaintiffs intend to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (3).  If the lawsuit fails there, it could perhaps go to the US Supreme Court.  

In any event, I am outraged by the Court's decision.  Girls deserve a chance to succeed on their own merits.  This shouldn't be taken away by CIAC's endorsement of what, in a word, is cheating.  

"That's not an insult, that is just a fact of life" (6)

Sources:

1. 2020-21 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Handbook. CIAC By-Laws, Article IX.  Connecticut Association of Schools, 2020, p. 55.

2. "Fairness In Women's Sports: Connecticut". Adflegal.Org, 2020, https://adflegal.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Soule%20v.%20Connecticut%20Association%20of%20Schools%20-%20One%20Page%20Summary.pdf. Accessed 26 Apr 2021.

3. "Judge Tosses Suit That Sought To Block Transgender Athletes". News 12 Connecticut, 2021, https://connecticut.news12.com/judge-tosses-suit-that-sought-to-block-transgender-athletes. Accessed 26 Apr 2021.

4. United States District Court, District of Connecticut. Soule V. Connecticut Association Of Schools. Motion to Disqualify and Memorandum in Support.  Accessed 26 Apr 2021.

5. Former New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards, 2002.  

6. Professional wrestler Eli Drake/"L.A. Knight".