Lawsuit Against Trans Athlete In Women’s Sports Has One Highly Unexpected Component, AFPI Counsel Says

America First Policy Institute (AFPI) Executive General Counsel Jessica Steinmann said Monday on “The Ingraham Angle” that, in addition to filing a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education, she is also requesting they investigate a potential First Amendment violation as it pertains to men in women’s sports.

Two Oregon high school athletes on Saturday evening refused to share the podium with biological male Lia Rose, who competed in the state’s female track and field championships and tied for fifth place. While discussing AFPI’s complaint on behalf of the female high school students, Steinmann said the request would go beyond just Title IX.

“Yes, so America First Policy Institute, we filed a complaint with the Department of Education asking them to look into the Oregon Department of Education,” Steinmann said. “So a Title IX, you’re right, Laura, a Title IX violation — so the men and the women’s sports.”

“But on top of this, because of this weekend’s race that the women were excused, they were sidelined. They were told to get out of there,” Steinmann added. “We also would like them to look at a First Amendment issue. And Laura, this is — you know exactly this.”

After the Oregon high school athletes had stepped off the podium during the awards, finishing in third and fourth place, an official female athlete, Alexa Anderson, told Ingraham that an official had told them to “get out of the photos” if they weren’t willing to participate.

In a letter sent to the department on Tuesday, AFPI accused the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon School Activities Association of having “adopted and enforced policies that unlawfully discriminate against female student-athletes on the basis of sex.” (RELATED: Civil Rights Complaint Alleges Male Student ‘Switches Gender’ To Watch Girls Change Despite Competing in Boys Sports)

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In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.” As a vow to protect biological women in sports, Trump’s order states that it’s the U.S. policy to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”

“This is why the First Amendment was created,” Steinmann said. “When a citizen has an issue with their government, especially about their own rights, they should be able to speak out. And these girls were not allowed to speak out.”

With Democrat-led states like Oregon and California still allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, Trump has warned about rescinding federal funds against those who are not obeying federal law.

On Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social, calling out Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom for continuing to allow biological males to compete in his state’s final championship, referring to AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old biological male, who identifies as a transgender girl.

“Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is “UNFAIR,’” Trump wrote.

While the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) updated its policy to add a new pilot “entry process for the upcoming 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships” after Trump’s threat of rescinding federal funds, Hernandez continued to compete in Saturday’s girls’ high and triple jump championship events.

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