Trans middle school athlete accused of sexual harassment after protests
High school track athlete Adaleia Cross from West Virginia has recently joined a national Title IX lawsuit after making allegations that a transgender 13-year-old teammate sexually harassed her during practices and in the school’s locker room.
In court documents, the transgender athlete, identified as “B.P.J.,” is accused of making “several offensive and inappropriate sexual comments” to Cross during the school shot put season, which reportedly escalated to more aggressive and disturbing comments during Cross’s final year of middle school. B.P.J. is a biological male who identifies as a female.
Cross stated, “During the end of that year, about two to three times per week, B.P.J. would look at me and make a sexually explicit vulgar comment. There were usually other girls around who heard this. I heard B.P.J. say the same thing to my other teammates, too.”
Furthermore, Cross claimed that additional “vulgar comments” caused deep distress and impacted her ability to continue participating in track and field. She alleged that some of these statements felt threatening, with hints of sexual assault being suggested by B.P.J.
Despite reporting the comments to school administrators, Cross felt that B.P.J. received minimal or no punishment for behavior that would not have been tolerated from any other student. This situation has made Cross reluctant to continue participating in the sport, especially given the overlapping practice times with B.P.J. due to the shared track between middle and high school.
As a result of these experiences, Cross expressed concerns about the upcoming school year, dreading the thought of being on the same sports team as B.P.J. once they both transition to high school.
Earlier this month, five West Virginia middle school girls faced bans from track and field meets after protesting against B.P.J. and the court’s failure to enforce the state’s “Save Women’s Sports Act.” However, a judge’s preliminary injunction allowed the student-athletes to compete again, preventing the school board from penalizing them for their speech.
It is worth noting that B.P.J.’s athletic performance consistently improved throughout middle school, leading to them outperforming Cross and securing a spot in a prestigious track meet, displacing Cross from one of the top three positions.
Despite these challenges, Cross felt compelled to speak out against the ongoing situation, highlighting feelings of being unheard and unseen in the face of adversity.
Furthermore, B.P.J. is currently involved in legal proceedings related to the State of Tennessee v. Cardona case, filed in the Northern District of Kentucky. West Virginia was among the group of states that originally filed as plaintiffs against the Title IX revisions made under the Biden administration.
President Biden’s Department of Education introduced new regulations for Title IX aimed at protecting gender identity from discrimination while undoing previous rules established during the Trump administration. These changes have sparked significant legal challenges and opposition from various groups.
Parent organizations, like Moms for Liberty, have criticized Biden’s Title IX overhaul, arguing that it undermines parental rights and puts children at risk. The swift response from numerous states, school districts, and organizations demonstrates the contentious nature of these regulatory changes.
In conclusion, the case involving Adaleia Cross and B.P.J. sheds light on the complexities surrounding transgender rights, women’s sports, and the broader implications of Title IX regulations. As legal battles continue, the debate over inclusivity, fairness, and protection of vulnerable populations remains a focal point in the ongoing dialogue surrounding gender identity and discrimination.
