Donald Trump has another reason to invade us: this state stands for trans rights.
Today, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Cooper v. USA Powerlifting, affirming that transgender athletes have the right to compete in sports without discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). The decision also clarified the harmful precedent set in Goins v. West Group only applies in the employment context, and the court did not consider whether to overturn Goins because Cooper’s case is not an employment case.
“This ruling sends a clear and powerful message: transgender people have a right to enjoy public spaces in Minnesota like sporting events, restaurants, and movie theaters, free from targeted discrimination,” said Jess Braverman, Legal Director at Gender Justice. “This decision is a historic victory for fairness, equity, and the fundamental rights of all Minnesotans.”
This ruling clarifies that all public accommodations in Minnesota, including sports organizations, must ensure their policies comply with Minnesota’s anti-discrimination laws. The implications of this decision extend well beyond sports to other facets of public life. This ruling reinforces the principle that every person deserves equal access to opportunities and spaces where they can thrive and belong.
Cool. Can we just replace the federal supreme court with the Minnesota supreme court?
I am more than down. SCOTUS has been beyond repair for quite a while now.
@Crip Dyke:
Up until relatively recently, people could have (and did) make the argument that Roberts’ concern for the respectability of the court would hold him back, as it had in the past.
By the time the court essentially vacated the 14th amendment and allowed Trump to run for office despite January 6th and the decisions in multiple states (if not before), it was pretty clear that concern for respectability was no longer part of the decision-making process, and anybody trying to make that argument was wilfully blind.
Bravo – almost makes up for the previous two atrocious pieces of news.
@ 1
This entire country is beyond repair.
Akira, silly doomsaying, that is.
(Still, I get you can’t help your premature lamentation; it is your nature)
In good news Queensland’s ban on puberty blockers has been struck down.
gijoel@6– Came here to say this too. Yesterday the Supreme Court of Queensland overturned ban on puberty blockers. Good news!
Unfortunately, as the Court says, the decision is based entirely on the failure of the government to go through the legal requirements of imposing such a ban and does not address the underlying medical reasoning. Of course, the RWNJs in charge of Queensland have announced immediately that they will be looking at other ways of banning puberty blockers. ‘Cos what could be more important than oppressing a vulnerable minority, even if it requires lying about the science, dismissing experts in the field, and ignoring legal protections?
chrislawson, I know you’re being rhetorical, but…
“Queensland have announced immediately that they will be looking at other ways of banning puberty blockers. ‘Cos what could be more important than oppressing a vulnerable minority”
Rolling back net zero, prioritising fossil fuels, including new fossil fuel plants.
cf. https://www.energymagazine.com.au/breaking-down-queenslands-energy-roadmap/
I agree that transgender people should enjoy the same access to public spaces such as sporting events, restaurants and movie theaters as anyone else, However. I also believe they should not be eligible to compete in sporting events where their born physique gives them an unfair competitive advantage. This is why I would allow boxing not to match a featherweight against a heavyweight and in athletics have male and female sprinters take part in separate races given that the top men are at least a second faster than the best women.
That said, I believe that this Supreme Court is irredeemably and unashamedly corrupt and that its granting of presidential immunity from prosecution for any acts committed while acting in an official capacity is as egregious as the notorious Dred Scott decision. The bedrock principle of justice that no person is above the law must be inviolable.
“However. I also believe they should not be eligible to compete in sporting events where their born physique gives them an unfair competitive advantage.”
So, a muscular woman (actual woman, by your standards) should not compete with non-muscular women (of any sort, even if not by your standards), right?
That’s the proposition at hand. Genetic advantage is to be repudiated.
Race to the bottom.
You must like this story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron
seversky@9–
The issue of transgender athletes is a wedge strategy by transphobe influencers and has nothing to do with the issue of politically-imposed puberty blocker bans.
The original dispute involved whether the trans woman would be allowed to compete in a women’s bench press competition, an event in which men typically lift around 1-1/2 times as much as women in the same weight class. This was a legal win for trans rights, but a PR failure. She can now be a poster example for the anti-trans movement.
Queensland ban reinstated :(
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/28/queenslands-controversial-puberty-blocker-ban-overturned-by-supreme-court?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
@13–
The Qld Supreme Court overturned the ban on the grounds of lack of consultation with appropriate health providers and community groups. I would suggest that the snap reimposition of the ban the same evening as the Court’s finding is not going to ameliorate the minister’s legal standing.