The Florida case is brought on behalf of 13-year-old Daisy * and her parents Jessica and Gary N. Daisy is starting grade 8 in the fall and has been involved in team sports since she was 8 years old. She finds joy, friendship and acceptance in basketball, softball and, currently, as a goaltender on three different soccer teams. Florida law will require Daisy to play on the boys’ soccer team in school, which she will not do, or to stop the sport altogether, which would adversely affect her academic and social development, while potentially putting endanger his privacy and security.

“Playing sports makes me feel like I belong, the idea of ​​not being able to play next year scares me”, said Marguerite. “I’m going to be alone and sad if I can’t play.”

Daisy only competed in women’s sports teams; while some of his teammates and coaches are aware of his transgender identity, others are not. She has enjoyed a supportive school and team environment and continues to play without incident with other teammates, opposing players and coaches, or parents of other student athletes. With the support of her parents, Daisy began receiving gender-affirming medical care in college.

Jessica and Gary have wholeheartedly supported their daughter throughout her transition. Jessica and Gary are proud to encourage Daisy’s participation in sports teams by commuting her between nightly practices and scrums, paying registration and equipment fees, and coordinating work schedules to ensure that they are present to watch Daisy in matches and tournaments. When Daisy began to express a desire to wear clothes that reflected her authentic gender, Jessica became president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Daisy’s Primary School to keep her child safe. Jessica remains a vigilant parent, recently changing careers to work as a high school aide that Daisy will attend next year.

“It’s a feeling of helplessness knowing that people think our daughter doesn’t deserve the right to play sports with her friends – she’s been playing with them for seven years and it hasn’t been a problem,” he said. he added. Jessica and Gary said. “Taking this right now will only further isolate her from her peers and take away her“ safe space. ”She’s just a girl who wants to play sports with her friends and be part of a team. parents, we just want her to be happy.

The HRC lawsuit makes a number of legal arguments, including that the law clearly violates Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments; Title IX expressly prohibits discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity offered by a recipient of federal financial assistance. The Department of Justice also recently announced that Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in federally funded educational institutions. The lawsuit also claims that the law violates the equal protection clause and due process clause of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. More information regarding upcoming legal challenges in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee will be announced throughout the year.