TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) — A trans woman is taking legal action against Princeton University, alleging she was unlawfully expelled just prior to her event at a university-organized track competition in May because of her gender identity.
A lawyer representing Sadie Schreiner submitted the legal action in New Jersey Superior Court on Tuesday, naming the school together with athletic director John Mack and track operations director Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick as parties involved. The case also includes New York-based Leone Timing and Results Services as a defendant due to their responsibility for managing official timings during structured track and field competitions.
The legal action was filed over five months following the NCAA altered its guidelines regarding the involvement of transgender athletes To restrict participation in women's sports to individuals who were designated as female at birth. This adjustment occurred one day following President Donald Trump signing an executive directive. meant to prohibit trans athletes designed to exclude transgender competitors aimed at preventing transgender individuals from participating created to restrict trans sports participation intended to prevent trans people from competing planned to bar transgender athletes meant to keep transgender athletes out designed to stop trans athletes from joining intended to disqualify transgender participants crafted to eliminate transgender involvement in athletics from female athletics from girls' and women's athletic events involving girl and woman athletes related to females' sporting activities concerning women's and girls' competitions pertaining to female sports events within the realm of girls' and women's games regarding female athlete competitions connected to women's and girls' physical contests associated with ladies' and girls' sport events
Schreiner, who came out during high school, had earlier campaigned for the Division III Rochester Institute of Technology but was planning to participate in the Larry Ellis Invitational as an independent competitor without affiliation to any institution or team. The lawsuit requests unknown compensation for a "humiliating, degrading, and dignity-eroding experience" witnessed by relatives and acquaintances.
The complaint cites New Jersey anti-discrimination law excluding discrimination based on being transgender, with schools regarded as places of "public accommodation."
We support the claims made in the document," said Susie Cirilli, an attorney for Schreiner, to The Associated Press on Friday. "As mentioned in the lawsuit, the defendants' personal conduct was unacceptable within a respectful society and exceeds the limits of what is considered proper.
Officials from Princeton's media and athletic departments, along with Leone Timing, failed to respond to emails from the AP requesting their input.
As stated in the lawsuit, Schreiner initially registered to compete in both the 100- and 200-meter events but eventually announced she would only participate in the 200 meters, even though she was eligible for both. The document claims she found out just 15 minutes prior to her event that her name had been taken off the official competitor roster, after which she brought the matter to the attention of Leone Timing representatives before being referred to Mack and Keenan-Kirkpatrick.
During that conversation, the lawsuit says, Keenan-Kirkpatrick stated, "I don’t want to make assumptions, but you are transgender." Furthermore, Keenan-Kirkpatrick "suggested that she had attempted to set up an exclusive event for Sadie so she could participate," as mentioned in the complaint, which also notes that Schreiner presented a birth certificate and driver’s license identifying her as female.
As per her Instagram profile Schreiner stated she was "prohibited" from participating in a February track competition at Boston University as an independent athlete after the Trump administration's directive and the NCAA's policy adjustment.
The national debate regarding transgender females competing on girl and woman sports teams has occurred at both state and federal levels, with Republicans using this topic as a campaign for fair play in athletics. Over twenty-five states have passed legislation preventing transgender women and girls from joining specific sporting events. Certain regulations have faced legal challenges and were halted by courts.
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