Female athletes ask court to uphold Indiana law ensuring fair play for girls

ADF attorneys file friend-of-the-court brief in defense of HB 1041

INDIANAPOLIS – On behalf of several female athletes, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal district court Friday in support of Indiana’s new law that protects athletic opportunities for girls.

ADF attorneys filed the brief on behalf of the five athletes, three of whom they represent in separate lawsuits defending fair competition for women by preserving sex-specific sports teams: Chelsea Mitchell, Selina Soule, and Madison Kenyon.

“At a time when girls are increasingly losing medals and opportunities to boys competing in their sports, it is imperative for states to enact—and uphold—laws that protect female athletes,” said ADF Legal Counsel Rachel Csutoros. “Girls have the right to be able to win, not just participate. Biological distinction in sports is not just commonsense, it is necessary to ensure girls in Indiana can continue to play the sports they love on a fair and level playing field.”

The brief explains how “biological males in many states have begun to compete in and dominate women’s sports, taking women’s spots in athletic competitions, their place on the podium and in the history books, and their chance to gain scholarships. Faced with this problem, Indiana passed Indiana Code § 20-33-13-4 (the Sports Act) that drew a biological line in defining women’s sports, protecting women’s ability to compete on a level playing field. This is a valid way to achieve a valid goal.”

Michael Cork, one of more than 4,400 attorneys in the ADF Attorney Network, is serving as local counsel in the case, A.M. v. Indianapolis Public Schools, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.

• Pronunciation guide: Csutoros (Suh-TOR-is)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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