Two high school students from New Hampshire are challenging President Trump’s ban on transgender girls participating in sports. They have already been fighting a similar state ban in federal court and are seeing some success.
Parker Tirrell, a sophomore at Plymouth Regional High School, and Iris Turmelle, a freshman at Pembroke Academy, recently asked a judge to include Trump and his administration in their lawsuit against the state. They argue that the ban violates their right to equal protection under the law.
According to their attorney, Chris Erchull from GLAD Law, both federal and state laws support the rights of transgender students. “An executive order can’t change those protections,” Erchull stated, emphasizing that transgender students deserve a fair chance at education.
In September, U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the enforcement of the state’s transgender sports ban, allowing the students to continue competing. Now, Erchull is asking the court to go further by challenging Trump’s ban at the national level.
Erchull noted that many transgender individuals are anxious about recent government actions that complicate their lives. “They’re terrified of the hurdles being placed in front of them,” he said.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office has not contested the request to add Trump to the lawsuit. They are committed to defending the state’s ban, stating that adding Trump doesn’t change the claims against state officials.
This legal fight highlights the ongoing struggle for equality and representation in sports for transgender individuals. The students’ actions could significantly impact how these issues are addressed in the future.