After being denied the chance to compete in the women\u2019s division in 2018, powerlifter JayCee Cooper reached a settlement with the organization that barred her.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Featured Image: courtesy of Gender Justice<\/em><\/p>\n On Tuesday, April 28, USA Powerlifting reached a settlement with transgender athlete JayCee Cooper. The agreement brings a lengthy legal battle to an end, following a lawsuit brought by Cooper against the organization after the Minnesotan was barred from competing in a 2018 women\u2019s powerlifting competition.<\/p>\n Terms of the agreement forbid both parties from disclosing specifics, but stakeholders on both sides shared thoughts with the press following the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThis settlement \u2013 which includes an acknowledgement by USA Powerlifting that their policies excluding trans women athletes for discrimination broke the law \u2013 affirms Minnesota\u2019s commitment to protecting every person\u2019s right to compete, belong and thrive without discrimination,\u201d Jess Braverman, legal director for legal advocacy organization Gender Justice, commented in a statement. \u201cWe celebrate this victory, but we also remain vigilant and ready to take action to ensure that all Minnesotans, including transgender Minnesotans, can participate in sports, schools, employment and health care without facing discrimination because of who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Landmark Minnesota Supreme Court Decision Affirms Trans Inclusion In Sports<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Former USA Powerlifting President Larry Maile\u00a0referenced an October Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that favored Cooper, saying, \u201cWe continue to believe strongly in the merits of our case, which are supported by global competition standards and bipartisan public sentiment. But left with few legal options, settlement is in the best interests of the organization\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Trans Athlete Sues US Powerlifting After Being Banned From Competing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n As GO<\/em> has previously reported, legal actions first got underway in 2019, when Jess Braverman of Gender Justice, along with Co-Counsel David Schlesinger and Matthew A. Frank of Nichols Kaster, PLLP,\u00a0filed a charge of discrimination<\/a>\u00a0with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights on behalf of JayCee Cooper, a member of USA Powerlifting (USAPL). Cooper had applied to participate in a bench press competition with USAPL. The organization denied Cooper\u2019s request to compete, and then created an exclusionary policy to prohibit transgender women from competing altogether.<\/p>\n Image: JayCee Coooper courtesy of Gender Justice<\/em><\/p>\n After mediation and negotiations with USAPL failed, a complaint was filed on January 12, 2021. On October 22, 2025, \u00a0the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of the athlete in Cooper v. USA Powerlifting<\/em>, affirming that transgender athletes have the right to compete in sports without discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.\u00a0The Court found USA Powerlifting liable for discrimination in public accommodations; therefore, it determined, transgender women cannot be barred from women\u2019s sports teams in the state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gomag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-43.png\")
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