www.youtube.com – WPDE ABC15 – 2025-06-28 08:45:10

SUMMARY: A federal Title IX investigation has been launched into Minnesota after transgender athlete Marissa Rothenberger, a high school pitcher, led Champlin Park to a girls’ state softball championship. Rothenberger’s participation sparked controversy over fairness, with critics calling it cheating. The Department of Health and Human Services initiated the probe following a similar Title IX investigation against California, which found the state violating the law by allowing transgender athletes in female sports. President Trump issued an executive order aiming to ban transgender girls from women’s sports, prompting legal battles as 27 states have enacted bans. The debate centers on fairness, compliance, and federal funding.

The Department of Health and Human Services opened a Title IX investigation into the state of Minnesota after a transgender pitcher led a softball team to the 4A state title. Marissa Rothenberger, a junior at Champlin Park High School, pitched every inning of the Minnesota Girls State Softball Tournament, culminating in a complete shutout in the final game to secure the title.

This move comes a day after the U.S. Department of Education concluded a similar investigation in California, finding the state in violation of Title IX for permitting transgender athletes to participate in girls’ and women’s sports. The debate had intensified after a transgender athlete won two state titles in track and field in a year.

“We’ve really been working on this issue for a while, really wanting to see girls in California once have safe sports and safe spaces again,” said Sophia Lorey, the outreach director for the California Family Council.

Read more: https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/federal-investigation-launched-minnesota-over-transgender-athlete-title-ix-champlin-park-katie-porter-democrat#

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