The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it has launched a Title IX investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League.
The inquiry will investigate whether Minnesota violated federal law by permitting male athletes to compete on girls-only sports teams—including in a recent high school softball championship.
OCR said the investigation was triggered because the “male athlete’s participation was instrumental, leading the team to win the state title.”
The Minnesota Department of Education, an HHS funding recipient, has delegated responsibility for high school athletics to the Minnesota State High School League, making both entities subject to Title IX compliance, HHS said. The U.S. Department of Education is conducting a separate investigation into both entities.
“Minnesota’s Attorney General has advised the Minnesota State High School League to follow state law and defy President Trump’s Executive Order on Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” a press release states.
The male athlete referenced by OCR, Charlie ‘Marissa’ Rothenberger, played softball for Champlin Park High School and pitched back-to-back shutouts, bringing the female team to the state tournament earlier this month.
“I think for me and other women it makes us feel like we don’t matter,” a female athlete who was forced to compete against Rothenberger told Alpha News.
Court records show that Rothenberger’s legal name and sex were changed in 2017 when he was just nine years old.
“Females cannot be relegated to the sidelines under Title IX,” said OCR Director Paula M. Stannard. “As a recipient of Federal funds, Title IX requires Minnesota to ensure fair and safe opportunities for females to compete on sex-segregated teams – regardless of state law obligations.”
OCR emphasized that federal civil rights statutes override conflicting state laws and that recipients of federal funding must fully comply with Title IX. This investigation forms part of the agency’s broader effort “to defend women and restore biological truth to the Federal government.”
Those who believe they have experienced discrimination in HHS-funded programs can file a complaint with OCR.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a federal lawsuit last month on behalf of three female high school softball players, accusing Attorney General Keith Ellison, the Minnesota State High School League, and other state officials of violating Title IX because they allowed male athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
