Congressional Democrats Under Scrutiny for Support of Transgender Athletes Amid Allegations
In a significant legal battle that has become increasingly contentious, 130 congressional Democrats are facing scrutiny after signing an amicus brief supporting transgender athletes in two lawsuits heading to the Supreme Court. The cases, which challenge state laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports, have taken a dramatic turn as allegations of misconduct have emerged against one of the plaintiffs. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments beginning January 13, the controversy highlights the complex intersection of transgender rights, women’s sports, and the responsibility of lawmakers who have publicly backed these cases.
The Democratic coalition includes prominent lawmakers such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi, and Senators Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, and Mazie Hirono, among others. In their brief, these legislators argued that “categorical bans—such as the bans in West Virginia and Idaho—undermine protections and the ability of transgender students to be part of their school community.” Senator Hirono specifically stated that “all students deserve equal access to opportunity in schools” and that “no student should be discriminated against based on who they are.” However, since Fox News Digital reported allegations against one of the transgender plaintiffs, none of the lawmakers who signed the brief have responded to requests for comment about whether they stand by their support in light of these new developments.
The allegations come from two West Virginia female students and their families, with claims of both sexual harassment and intimidation. Adaleia Cross, a former track teammate of the transgender athlete (who remains unnamed due to being a minor), alleges that while sharing a locker room during the 2022-23 school year, the transgender athlete made sexually explicit comments to her. According to Adaleia’s mother, Abby, the transgender athlete allegedly said inappropriate sexual things to her daughter, which the family reported to the school. Adaleia ultimately quit the track team to avoid sharing a locker room with the transgender athlete. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represents the transgender athlete, has denied these allegations, stating that “the school district investigated the allegations reported to the school by A.C. and found them to be unsubstantiated.”
A second student, Emmy Salerno, has come forward with separate allegations of intimidation tactics. Salerno claims that after she and four other girls refused to compete against the transgender athlete in shot put during the 2024 spring season, the transgender athlete’s behavior toward her changed dramatically. Salerno described being followed and subjected to intimidating stares at public events, receiving a Snapchat post that appeared to be from the transgender athlete with a caption reading, “Reminder that she has more testosterone than me,” and feeling concerned about potential physical confrontation. “At the basketball game when he just followed me everywhere, I kind of felt like, ‘Is he gonna try to fight me?'” Salerno recounted. “I’ve always tried to avoid him everywhere I went.” The ACLU has not responded to requests for comment regarding Salerno’s allegations.
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents the Cross family and the state of West Virginia against the transgender athlete in the Supreme Court case, has pushed back against the ACLU’s denial. In a statement, the ADF emphasized that their client “has sworn under oath and under penalty of perjury in numerous cases about the events that took place between her and the male athlete” and that “as a result of the situation, [Cross] had to step away from the sport she loved entirely and sacrifice a key element of her school experience to protect herself.” The Cross family maintains that they received no response from the school after filing their report about the alleged harassment, though Fox News Digital’s requests to both the ACLU and the Harrison County School District for documentation or clarification about any investigation have gone unanswered.
As this controversy unfolds, conservative groups like the American Principles Project have condemned the Democratic lawmakers who signed the amicus brief, questioning why “the Left continue[s] to die on this hill.” Erika Donalds, wife of Republican Representative Byron Donalds, has also drawn attention to the issue by naming all 130 signatories in a social media post. The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will have far-reaching implications for transgender rights in education and athletics across the country. The case exemplifies the deeply polarized nature of contemporary cultural debates, where questions about inclusion, fairness, safety, and the meaning of Title IX protections against sex discrimination in education have become political flashpoints with real consequences for students navigating their identities and athletic aspirations in American schools.
