Holly Magalengo filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on January 20, 2025, on behalf of her daughter, who competed on the Quakertown Community High School girls cross country team against Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s team, which included a trans girl. The Plymouth Whitemarsh runner finished first at a September 11, 2024, meet, while Magalengo’s daughter finished second (the pair met at a second meet in December 2024). Also named in the suit as defendants are the United States Department of Education, Quakertown Community School District, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
According to court documents, after the September 2024 race, Magalengo’s daughter told the Plymouth Whitemarsh runner, “You are not a girl. You should not be racing against girls.” That led to the Plymouth Whitemarsh coaches complaining to the Quakertown coaches and stating that they were going to bring the matter to the Quakertown’s administration.
The day following the race, Magalengo contacted Quakertown High School’s principal and sought support in “removing biological males from competing in female sports and protecting female athletes.” The principal responded, “Different sports organizations and governing bodies have various policies in place to address concerns with yours, aiming to create an environment where all athletes can complete. The PIAA Bylaws in Article XVI Section 4E states: ‘Where a student’s gender is questioned or uncertain, the decision of the Principal as to the student’s gender will be accepted by the PIAA.’ The decision for which team their student athlete competes under, is the decision of the Plymouth Whitemarsh SD administration which we do not control.”
According to the court documents, Dr. Jason Bacani, the principal of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, had decided that the trans girl could compete on the girls cross country team.
Magalengo’s suit seeks “damages for the violation of her civil rights, financial loss, physical harm, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress in amounts to be determined at trial and as are
allowed under the statute.”
You can read the full complaint here.
h/t Philadelphia Gay News