Despite federal mandates, the fight continues in Minnesota to keep boys out of girls’ sports. Renee Carlson, general counsel of True North Legal, an initiative of the Minnesota Family Council, joined Liz Collin on her podcast to reflect on the fight happening at the Minnesota State Capitol to protect girls in sports.
“This was about a decade ago that myself and others who were concerned about the Minnesota State High School League’s policies testified to these concerns. Back around like 2014, 2015, we testified when the league changed its guidelines to allow athletes who identify as trans athletes to participate in sports based on their gender identity,” Carlson said. “This issue has come to the forefront and so I’m thankful that the legislature is finally addressing this again after about a decade.”
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that seeks to keep biological males out of female sports while his Department of Education announced a Title IX investigation into the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
At MSHSL’s request, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a “formal opinion” Thursday concluding that the league would be in violation of the state’s Human Rights Act were it to comply with the executive order.
“We are very thankful that President Trump and his administration are going to enforce Title IX with its original intent. Title IX is a federal statute that was really enacted to protect women’s opportunities in education, and that includes opportunities in athletics,” Carlson explained.
“President Trump is putting forth, with his interpretation, the hallmark, the spirit and intent of what this law was intended to do. That is going to have an impact in the states because states cannot not comply with a federal statute. Here in Minnesota where we have people conflating sex with gender identity, they’re going to have a hard time defending their positions with the administration’s interpretation of this law and that’s why we have this tension,” Carlson explained.
Carlson testified on Wednesday in support of Rep. Peggy Scott’s bill to protect the integrity of girls’ sports, as did several female athletes.
“Again, it’s just making clear that the spirit and intent of the law that has already always existed was actually, in fact, intended to give female athletes opportunities here in the state of Minnesota. And of course, not just athletes, but with respect to Title IX, like I said, it’s an educational opportunity. I am so proud of these girls who decided to step forward and to speak truth,” Carlson said.
A 9th-grade swimming and track athlete to Minnesota lawmakers on a bill to protect girls' sports: 'I would be absolutely devastated to see my dream awarded to someone who will always have an advantage over me.' pic.twitter.com/3lkn3i0vgY
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) February 20, 2025
“I mean, they were giving the practical implications of why this law matters. And so, you can sit in legislative policy debates and, you know, be in litigation. And sometimes it’s hard to really understand when you’re in the room what the real world impact is. But when you have actual citizens of the state of Minnesota as young as 13, 14, our daughters coming in to say, ‘this is what this law means to me and why this issue is so important,’ that just takes it to a whole new level. It really humanizes the issue. And again, these girls made it very clear, this is not about a discriminatory intent toward anybody or any person. It’s not about personalities or anything else. This is simply about protecting female opportunities.”
For people who want updates and more information about getting involved, visit truenorthlegal.org
Liz Collin
Liz Collin has been a truth-teller for 20 years as a multi-Emmy-Award-winning reporter and anchor. Liz is a Worthington, Minnesota native who lives in the suburbs with her husband, son and loyal lab.
