JayCee Cooper
{{Short description|American transgender powerlifter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
JayCee Cooper is an American transgender powerlifter and LGBTQ+ advocate.{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=JayCee |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Powerlifter JayCee Cooper: It's Time to Share The Platform |url=https://www.athleteally.org/powerlifter-jaycee-cooper/ |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Athlete Ally |language=en-US}} She gained national attention for her legal challenge against USA Powerlifting, after it barred her from competing in the women's division due to her gender identity.{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Stephen |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Lawyers for transgender powerlifter say Minnesota Supreme Court will hear gender discrimination case |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/transgender-powerlifter-jaycee-cooper-gender-discrimination-minnesota-supreme-court/ |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117212712/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/transgender-powerlifter-jaycee-cooper-gender-discrimination-minnesota-supreme-court/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first=Mathew |last=Rodriguez |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Jaycee Cooper, Trans Powerlifter Barred From Competing, Takes on Minnesota Supreme Court |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/jaycee-cooper-trans-powerlifter-barred-172904896.html |access-date=May 5, 2025 |publisher=Them |via=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}
Early life and background
Cooper participated in soccer, t-ball wrestling, track and field and curling, when she was growing up. She excelled at curling, and competed at the World Juniors in 2007. She changed her name to JayCee legally when she was 28, as she transitioned her gender identity. Cooper then became interested in roller derby, because of its trans-inclusive policy. In 2017, she broke her ankle and turned to powerlifting.
Legal history
In 2018, Cooper paid for an annual membership with USA Powerlifting, so she could take part in functions in Minnesota. She was granted approval and sent in a "therapeutic use exemptions standard process form", seeking approval for her prescribed use of spironolactone. In 2019, USA Powerlifting denied Cooper's application to compete in the women's category, citing its policy on transgender athletes. The organization argued that hormone levels and other physiological factors gave transgender women a competitive advantage.{{Cite web |author=The Associated Press |date=March 19, 2024 |title=Discrimination lawsuit brought by transgender powerlifter sent back to Minnesota trial court |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/discrimination-lawsuit-brought-transgender-powerlifter-sent-back-minne-rcna144038 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=November 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107113400/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/discrimination-lawsuit-brought-transgender-powerlifter-sent-back-minne-rcna144038 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Amber |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Trans Powerlifter's Discrimination Lawsuit Reaches Minnesota Supreme Court |url=https://www.outkick.com/sports/trans-powerlifter-jaycee-cooper-discrimination-lawsuit-minnesota-supreme-court |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=OutKick |language=en-US}}
In 2021, Cooper filed a lawsuit against USA Powerlifting in Minnesota state court, claiming that the organization had violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, among other characteristics.{{Cite web |title=Cooper v. USA Powerlifting |url=https://lawyeringproject.org/our-work/cooper-v-usa-powerlifting/ |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=The Lawyering Project |language=en-US |archive-date=December 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209232731/https://lawyeringproject.org/our-work/cooper-v-usa-powerlifting/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Morik |first=Ryan |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trans-female-weightlifter-takes-usa-powerlifting-lawsuit-minnesota-supreme-court |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=February 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224150152/https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trans-female-weightlifter-takes-usa-powerlifting-lawsuit-minnesota-supreme-court |url-status=live }}
In March 2023, a judge ruled in Cooper’s favor, concluding that USA Powerlifting had discriminated against her based on gender identity and ordering the organization to revise its policy.{{Cite web |first=Valerie |last=Richardson |title=Appeals court sides with USA Powerlifting in defeat for transgender athlete JayCee Cooper |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/mar/19/appeals-court-sides-with-usa-powerlifting-in-defea/ |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=The Washington Times |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404234625/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/mar/19/appeals-court-sides-with-usa-powerlifting-in-defea/ |url-status=live }} In March 2024, the Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned that ruling, stating it had found "genuine issues of material fact as to whether defendant excluded plaintiff from the women's division of its weightlifting competitions because of her transgender status."{{cite news |last1=Skluzacek |first1=Josh |title=Court overturns win for transgender Minnesota powerlifter in discrimination case |url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/court-overturns-win-for-transgender-minnesota-powerlifter-in-discrimination-case/ |work=KSTP |date=18 March 2024}} Cooper then appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and in December 2024, the court heard oral arguments in the case.{{cite news |last1=Day |first1=Jeff |title=Minnesota Supreme Court considers transgender weightlifting lawsuit with wide-ranging implications |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-considers-transgender-weightlifting-lawsuit-with-wide-ranging-implications/601190224 |work=The Minnesota Star Tribune |date=3 December 2024 |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2025 |access-date=May 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401202201/https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-considers-transgender-weightlifting-lawsuit-with-wide-ranging-implications/601190224 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kirsten |last2=Nace |first2=Aki |last3=Rantala |first3=Jason |title=Minnesota Supreme Court hears discrimination lawsuit brought by transgender athlete - CBS Minnesota |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mn-supreme-court-discrimination-lawsuit-transgender-athlete/ |work=CBS News |date=3 December 2024 |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=May 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128014347/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mn-supreme-court-discrimination-lawsuit-transgender-athlete/ |url-status=live }}