RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Riverside Unified School District school board meeting on Thursday night was overcrowded, forcing dozens to remain outside.

But this wasn’t just any regular board meeting.

What You Need To Know

  • Taylor S. was bumped down to the JV team after transgender athlete M.L. clocked in 52 seconds faster than her the first time they competed

  • Plaintiffs Taylor and Kaitlyn wore t-shirts bearing the messages "Save Girls’ Sports" and "It’s Common Sense. XX ≠ XY"

  • Taylor S. was moved back up to the varsity cross-country team, only missing that one meet, M.L. is still on the team as well

  • The issue is causing a rift in the Riverside community

A 16-year-old transgender athlete at a Riverside high school is involved in a lawsuit filed by two of her classmates after a conflict over a spot on the girl’s varsity cross-country team.

Taylor S., a 16-year-old cross-country runner filed the lawsuit after being bumped down to the junior varsity team after the transgender athlete identified by her initials, M.L., clocked in 52 seconds faster than her the first time they competed, causing Taylor to miss a varsity cross-country meet.

The issue is causing a rift in the Riverside community.

“This is right in our backyard and we have a handful of girls who are a part of our chapter who went to the school that this happened to, at Martin Luther King, so it hit home,” said Young Women of America Chapter President, Tori Hitchcock.

Taylor’s dad, Ryan Starling spoke to us about her experience.

“Her whole goal was to make varsity, run in the top seven and become a team captain and she accomplished all of that and then to have it stripped away from her was heartbreaking,” said Starling.

This led Taylor and Kaitlyn, a fellow cross country athlete, to don shirts that read “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense.” XX ≠ XY.” 

The school’s athletic department reportedly compelled students to conceal or remove the shirts, likening them to Swastikas.

The lawsuit claims the school violated Title IX and free speech rights by not taking action against M.L. for sex discrimination. to the same standard as the rest of her teammates, who were required to attend practice regularly.

“To see her go through all of that and have it stripped away by an individual who only showed up to 13 out of 74 practices approximately, it was heartbreaking,” Starling said.

Here’s a statement from M.L.’s parents:

“When this movement began there was a sense of opposition. As they increased with numbers, they came with alienation and intimidation. Everyday, my child has to go to school and see kids in shirts in stanch opposition of who she is. She began to see people she thought were her friends supporting a movement that rejected her.”

Professor Juliet Williams of UCLA’s Gender Studies program described it as a multifaceted issue.

“I don’t think any field has experienced more innovation than that of gender studies,” UCLA Gender Studies professor, Juliet Williams.

And that accommodations should be made for all students.

“As a parent, as a scholar, as a citizen, I want to make sure that policy making at our schools isn’t us versus them. We’re not demonizing certain kids, we’re not bullying certain kids, we’re not ridiculing certain kids,” Williams said.

In contrast to other approaches, Julianne Fleischer, Taylor, and Kaitlyn’s lawyer proposed a legal resolution as the only option.

“We’re calling on Congress and President Trump to restore Title IX as it was intended, and we want to see more young female athletes continue to speak up. It’s a bold stand,” Fleischer said.

A bold stand on a nationwide issue where the outcome is unknown.

Following the Title IX complaint at Martin Luther King High School, Taylor rejoined the varsity cross-country team, missing just one meet. M.L. is still on the team as well.