Oregon high school athlete Alexa Anderson took a bold stand at the state track championship by refusing to share the medal podium with a transgender competitor, sparking national debate and facing backlash from officials who ordered her to leave the photo area.
At a Glance
- Tigard High School athlete Alexa Anderson refused to stand on the medal podium with transgender athlete Liaa Rose at an Oregon state track championship
- Anderson and fellow athlete Reese Eckard were allegedly ordered by officials to move away from the ceremony if they wouldn’t participate
- Anderson finished third in the high jump, while Rose placed fifth in the competition
- The America First Policy Institute has filed a Title IX discrimination complaint against Oregon for allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports
- Similar protests have occurred in California and Washington as the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports intensifies
Podium Protest Sparks Controversy
The controversy unfolded at the Oregon State Athletic Association’s Girls High Jump medal ceremony when Alexa Anderson, who placed third, and Reese Eckard, who finished fourth, stepped down from the podium in protest of transgender athlete Liaa Rose’s participation. Rose, who placed fifth in the competition, had previously competed in the boys’ division. Viral footage captured the moment when an official directed Anderson and Eckard to move away from the photo area after they refused to stand on the podium.
Anderson described the incident to media outlets, explaining that officials attempted to remove them from the ceremonial area entirely. “We stepped off the podium in protest and, as you can see, the official kind of told us ‘hey, go over there, if you’re not going to participate, get out of the photos’,” Anderson said.
Taking a Stand for Female Athletes
Anderson has emerged as an outspoken critic of policies allowing transgender women to compete in female sports categories. While this was her first public protest, she revealed she has privately supported other female athletes who have taken similar stands. The Oregon high jumper argues that biological differences create an inherent competitive advantage that undermines fairness in women’s sports competitions.
The controversy extends beyond Oregon. In Washington state, transgender athlete Verónica Garcia recently won the state Class 2A 400-meter dash championship, facing similar criticism. In California, a transgender athlete’s participation in track events has sparked nationwide debate, even drawing comments from political figures including former President Donald Trump, who threatened potential funding consequences for the state.
Legal Challenges Mount Nationwide
The Oregon incident has drawn attention from advocacy groups seeking to protect women’s sports. The America First Policy Institute has filed a Title IX discrimination complaint against Oregon for allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports competitions. This action joins similar challenges across the country as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights launches Title IX investigations in several states regarding transgender athlete policies.
Jessica Hart Steinmann of the America First Policy Institute has argued that forcing young women to compete against biological males violates federal law and sends a discouraging message to female athletes. The mounting legal challenges reflect growing tension between policies promoting transgender inclusion and concerns about competitive fairness in women’s sports, a debate that shows no signs of resolution as more athletes like Anderson take public stands on the issue.
