In a significant development in high school sports and free‑speech law, Oregon student‑athletes Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard achieved a legal win in their lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA). The case centers on their decision in May to step off the medal podium during a girls’ high‑jump event in protest of competing alongside a transgender athlete.
According to the complaint, the pair placed third and fourth in the event and then declined to participate in the official podium ceremony — an act they say was a silent protest. They allege the OSAA retaliated by excluding them from official photographs and withholding their medals.
A key turning point came when U.S. District Court Judge Youlee Yim You denied the OSAA’s motion to strike a portion of the lawsuit that challenged what speech the association allows and what it penalises. The plaintiffs highlight that the OSAA reportedly allows political messages such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride, yet allegedly punished this protest, which raised questions about viewpoint neutrality.
Anderson commented:
“That’s the thing with bias: the worst offenders are the ones who can’t see their own behaviour for what it is.”
Their legal team from the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) framed the decision as a meaningful victory for the First Amendment rights of young athletes.
The athletes emphasised that though this is only a procedural win, they believe it opens the path for a full hearing on the merits of their claims. They also affirmed their broader mission — advocating for fairness in women’s sports and ensuring female competitors have a level playing field.
