A teenage wrestler and her mother have filed a lawsuit against state athletics and school officials in Washington, alleging that the girl was forced to wrestle a male opponent who identifies as trans in a girls’ tournament without notice, and was then allegedly sexually assaulted during the match.
Alleged Assault and Lack of Notice
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims that the girl, identified as K.M.K., was directed to take the mat without being informed that her opponent was a male. The opponent allegedly reached between K.M.K.’s legs and digitally penetrated her through her wrestling uniform for several seconds, causing pain and distress.
K.M.K.’s mother, Stephanie Brown, reported the incident to school officials, who did not report it to law enforcement until January 30, despite Washington’s mandatory reporting requirements. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation into the Puyallup School District based on reports that a male competitor sexually assaulted a female wrestler during a competition designated as a women’s wrestling event.
Parental Rights and Title IX Claims
The lawsuit brings Title IX claims tied to athletics, sexual assault, harassment, and a hostile environment. It also brings Fourteenth Amendment claims over equal protection, parental rights, and state-created danger. The plaintiffs argue that Washington athletics and school policies allowed a male athlete to compete in girls’ wrestling without notice to K.M.K. or Brown, and that those policies prevented Brown from deciding whether her daughter should wrestle a male opponent.
The lawsuit seeks to bar male athletes from competing against K.M.K. in girls’ wrestling, girls’ soccer, or other girls’ sports involving contact or competitive athletic skill. It also seeks parental notice and opt-out rights when K.M.K. would face a male opponent, correction of certain athletic records, and damages.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
