MN Supreme Court: USAPL discriminated against trans athlete; remands ‘business purpose’ defense
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting discriminated against transgender weightlifter JayCee Cooper under the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s public‑accommodations provision, affirming partial summary judgment that USAPL’s policy constituted sexual‑orientation discrimination. The court remanded a separate business‑statute claim to district court so USAPL can pursue a “legitimate business purposes” defense; Cooper, who sued in 2021 after being denied entry to women’s events in 2018, and her advocates say the public‑accommodations ruling would still leave USAPL liable even if it prevailed on the remanded claim.
📌 Key Facts
- On Oct. 22, 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting (USAPL) discriminated against transgender powerlifter JayCee Cooper, affirming partial summary judgment for Cooper under the public‑accommodations provision of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA).
- The court found USAPL’s policy amounted to sexual‑orientation discrimination under the MHRA.
- The justices allowed USAPL to pursue a separate 'legitimate business purposes' defense on a distinct business‑statute claim and remanded that portion of the case to the district court for further proceedings.
- Gender Justice, representing Cooper, said that even if USAPL prevailed on the remanded business claim, USAPL would still be liable on the public‑accommodations claim the high court affirmed.
- Cooper originally sued in 2021 after being denied entry to women’s‑division powerlifting events in 2018.
- The decision and reporting were published by FOX 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul on Oct. 22, 2025.
📰 Sources (2)
Transgender powerlifting case ruled discrimination by MN Supreme Court
New information:
- Court affirmed partial summary judgment for JayCee Cooper under the public accommodations provision of the MHRA, finding USAPL’s policy constituted sexual-orientation discrimination.
- The justices allowed USA Powerlifting to pursue a 'legitimate business purposes' defense on a separate business‑statute claim and remanded that portion to district court.
- Gender Justice (for Cooper) said even if USAPL prevailed on the remanded business claim, USAPL would still be liable on the public accommodations claim.
- Timeline context: Cooper sued in 2021 after being denied entry to women’s division events in 2018.