Trans powerlifter JayCee Cooper wins discrimination settlement after ban from sport

Jaycee Cooper. (Image: Courtesy of Gender Justice)

The Minnesota Supreme Court has settled transgender powerlifter Jaycee Cooper’s lawsuit against USA Powerlifting, ruling that the organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by barring her from competing in women’s competitions.

The settlement was announced on April 28 by the legal director of Gender Justice, who represents Cooper. CBS News. They said, “While we celebrate this victory, we remain vigilant and ready to take action to ensure that all Minnesotans, including transgender Minnesotans, can participate in sports, school, employment, and health care without facing discrimination because of their identity.”

The controversy began in 2018 when Cooper, a transgender woman, was banned from competing in two women’s powerlifting competitions.

Read more: 6 myths about trans athletes debunked

She filed a lawsuit claiming this was discrimination under Minnesota law. USA Powerlifting argued that its approach was based on what it described as a “strength advantage” related to Cooper’s sex assigned at birth, rather than that he is transgender.

Cooper is known publicly for challenging restrictions on trans women’s participation in female sports through a lawsuit in Minnesota. Her case has been widely cited in the U.S. debate about how state civil rights laws apply to sports organizations and membership organizations.

Supreme Court discrimination ruling

In October 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting’s exclusion of transgender women from its women’s division amounted to discrimination in public accommodations under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The court found that at the time of the ruling, USA Powerlifting did not have a formal written policy that excluded transgender women from competition.

The court also sent another discrimination case back to a lower court, saying USA Powerlifting must show that its policies are not based on stereotypes and are reasonably necessary to its business mission.

The exact details of the settlement have not been made public.

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