Transgender Sprinter Sues RPI Over Exclusion from Women’s Events

Transgender sprinter Sadie Schreiner has initiated legal action against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), alleging discrimination after being barred from participating in women’s events at a track meet held eight months ago. The lawsuit was filed on March 15, 2024, in the Rensselaer County Supreme Court.

Schreiner contends that RPI violated New York’s Human Rights Law by preventing her from competing in the women’s 200-meter and 400-meter races at the university’s “Under the Lights Invitational,” a two-day event that took place in April 2023. According to court documents, Schreiner registered as an “unattached” runner through Direct Athletics, paying a $44 entry fee.

The situation escalated when, on April 9, 2023, RPI’s general counsel informed Schreiner via email that she could not participate due to Executive Order 14201, an order issued by former President Donald Trump that restricts transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The email stated that the institute “intends to vigorously enforce this Executive Order under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.”

Schreiner’s legal team argues that the executive order cannot override state laws that protect individuals based on gender identity. The law, outlined in NY. Exec. §292(35), explicitly states that it covers a person’s actual or perceived gender-related identity, behavior, and expression, regardless of the sex assigned at birth.

In the lawsuit, Susan Cirilli, Schreiner’s attorney, accused RPI of “maliciously, willfully, and recklessly discriminating” against her client and denying her access to public facilities available to others. Cirilli emphasized that RPI’s actions demonstrate a disregard for state law, stating, “RPI discriminated against Sadie, citing the Executive Order and their fear of the Department of Education.”

As of now, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has not responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. This case underscores the ongoing conflict between federal policies and state anti-discrimination laws, particularly as NCAA schools grapple with the decision to follow Trump’s executive order issued on February 6, 2023, rather than adhere to state regulations.

On February 5, 2023, a joint statement from the New York Attorney General and the State Education Department sought to clarify the rights of transgender individuals in public schools. The statement asserted that the executive orders do not alter the rights of transgender students in New York, emphasizing that any changes to the definition of ‘sex’ under Title IX would require congressional action or formal rulemaking.

In addition to her lawsuit against RPI, Schreiner is also pursuing legal action against SUNY Geneseo and members of its athletic department, as well as the NCAA, following her exclusion from a meet in March 2023. Both cases highlight the complexities surrounding the treatment of transgender athletes in competitive sports.

Schreiner is seeking punitive damages, compensation for emotional distress, and attorneys’ fees, and has requested a jury trial. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for transgender athletes and the enforcement of state versus federal policies regarding gender identity in sports.