The board voted 4-2 on September 28 to approve a letter to the Minnesota State High School League.<\/p>\n
The proposal would base eligibility for girls sports on biological sex instead of gender identity.<\/p>\n
However, the letter’s delivery had not been confirmed as of September 29.<\/p>\n
MPR News reported that the board’s designated MSHSL representative declined to sign the letter.<\/p>\n
The district’s activities director is also an authorized representative and could sign it.<\/p>\n
Board Seeks Statewide Bylaw Process<\/h2>\n
The proposal asks the Minnesota State High School League<\/a> to use its bylaw process.<\/p>\n Detroit Lakes wants member schools to consider changing eligibility rules for girls teams.<\/p>\n The district letter argues the current rule should be replaced with a sex-based standard.<\/p>\n The MSHSL approved its transgender participation policy in December 2014.<\/p>\n The policy later allowed eligible transgender students to compete consistently with their gender identity.<\/p>\n Detroit Lakes argues that policy should have received broader consideration from member schools.<\/p>\n The district’s letter also raises concerns about Title IX and possible federal funding disputes.<\/p>\n The proposal cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 30 decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J.<\/em><\/p>\n The court upheld sex-based sports laws in West Virginia and Idaho.<\/p>\n The court found those laws did not violate Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause.<\/p>\n The full Supreme Court opinion is available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n The ruling allows states to maintain female teams based on biological sex.<\/p>\n It did not directly decide whether Minnesota’s different policy violates federal law.<\/p>\n Minnesota officials maintain that state law protects participation based on gender identity.<\/p>\n The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office<\/a> issued that interpretation in 2025.<\/p>\n Opponents argue the current policy violates Title IX and reduces fair competition for female athletes.<\/p>\n Supporters argue transgender students should have equal access to school activities under Minnesota law.<\/p>\n Those competing legal views are now being tested in federal court.<\/p>\n Chief U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud heard arguments September 28 in two related challenges.<\/p>\n No deadline for decisions in those cases has been announced.<\/p>\n Brainerd and other Minnesota districts have also considered similar MSHSL bylaw proposals.<\/p>\n Any statewide change would still need to complete the league’s formal amendment process.<\/p>\n I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News<\/a>.<\/p>\nSupreme Court Ruling Adds Legal Questions<\/h2>\n
Minnesota Policy Faces Court Challenges<\/h2>\n
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