Administrators of public schools in Portland, Oregon, are undergoing a federal civil rights investigation regarding an alleged incident involving a transgender student-athlete’s participation in a girls’ track and field event last week, as announced by the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday.
The Office of Civil Rights within the department has initiated an inquiry into both the Portland school district and the Oregon School Activities Association, a nonprofit organization responsible for governing high school sports across the state. Federal officials have accused both entities of breaching Title IX, the federal legislation that prohibits discrimination based on sex and is occasionally invoked to dispute the involvement of trans women and girls on girls’ and women’s athletic teams.
In this instance, the civil rights office contends that Portland Public Schools and the activities association permitted a transgender runner to compete in the girls’ division during a March 19 interscholastic track and field event, which may have undermined Title IX, particularly since the runner secured first place in two events. Additionally, the office mentioned that allowing the trans student access to the girls’ locker room during the competition could also breach the statute.
The civil rights office confirmed it sent letters to Kimberly Armstrong, the superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and the activities association, which oversees the Portland Interscholastic League, to notify them of the investigation. The office is specifically examining the activities association’s “gender identity participation” policy to assess whether it conflicts with Title IX regulations.
This policy, as indicated by the activities association, is designed to enable students to partake in athletic programs that correspond with their gender identities while ensuring safe and equitable standards for all participants. Developed in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Education, the activities association states that its policy “promotes harmony and fair competition among member schools by maintaining equality of eligibility” and affords more students the opportunity to engage in interscholastic activities.
The federal civil rights office initiated the investigation in response to a complaint stating that the school district and the activities association had allegedly allowed an athlete not designated female at birth “to compete in the girls’ track and field division over the past two seasons.” The complaint highlighted that the transgender runner triumphed in two races—the girls’ 200-meter and 400-meter—at an interscholastic championship meet in Portland last year and again this year.
“We will not permit the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational institution receiving federal funds to infringe upon the antidiscrimination protections guaranteed to women and girls under the law,” stated Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department, in an official comment. “OCR will utilize every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is deprived of equal athletic opportunities or denied her deserved recognition.”
President Trump’s re-election in January, along with a subsequent executive order asserting that “only two sexes” will be acknowledged by the federal government, laid the groundwork for such investigations to proceed. Opposing the inclusion of trans athletes in girls’ and women’s sports was a prominent issue during his campaign, which had already emerged as a significant political concern among numerous Republican leaders.
A spokesperson for the activities association informed CBS News on Wednesday that the organization was made aware of the federal investigation and is seeking legal counsel to address the Department of Education’s inquiries. Armstrong from the Portland school district confirmed in a statement to CBS News that the federal civil rights office did receive a complaint, triggering the probe. She emphasized that Portland Public Schools “is fully cooperating with the investigation.”
“I remain steadfast in our legal obligations and wholeheartedly value every student’s right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,” her statement continued. Referring to “this complex legal landscape,” Armstrong noted that the district’s policies are in line with Oregon state laws, “which may differ from federal guidance.”
“While I am restricted in what I can disclose at this moment due to the sensitive nature of the issue and our responsibility to protect student privacy, I want to affirm: my dedication—and our district’s dedication—to ensuring what is right for all students, especially those who are most vulnerable, remains unwavering,” she stated.
