The Oregon High School Sports Association has won an initial legal victory in the case of two high school athletes that made headlines in early this year when they stepped down from a podium to protest a competitor who was transgender.
Alexa Anderson, of Tigard High School, and Reese Eckard, of Sherwood High School in Oregon made a powerful but quiet statement at the Oregon State Track and Field Championships. The pair, who finished third and fourth respectively in the girls high jump event, refused to share the podium with a transgender competitor that had competed previously in the boy’s division. They turned away and stepped back during the award ceremony. The moment was recorded and went viral.
Anderson explained that the protest was not against hatred, but for fairness.
Both athletes claim that event officials told them to leave the podium, and they were not allowed to take official photos. Anderson recalls that an official said to her: “If you are not participating, leave the pictures.”
Anderson and Eckard, who were both punished by the Oregon School Activities Association for peacefully expressing themselves in their religious beliefs, filed a suit against them. They claimed that they had been violated their First Amendment Rights. The lawsuit, which was represented by America First Policy Institute and raised Title IX issues, also alleged that the OSAA policy of allowing males born to biological parents to participate in women’s sports violates Title IX protections.
WATCH:
We have come a very long way.
Women & Girls are now being celebrated for their courage.
Congratulations to Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard for winning the Most Valuable Patriot Award.
Oh and some nice XXXY tees! pic.twitter.com/qUxUChuoU8
— XX_XY Athletics 7 November 2025
In the legal case Anderson v. Oregon School Activities Association filed before a federal court, it is argued that OSAA allowed some forms of expression, such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ-themed messaging, while penalizing others. Plaintiffs claim that OSAA engaged in unlawful viewpoint discrimination by allowing some social or political viewpoints, but not others.
Youlee Yim You, U.S. District Court judge, sided with Anderson & Eckard in a procedural issue, and rejected OSAA’s request to dismiss the girls’ claim of discrimination based on their viewpoint. The decision, while not resolving the case in its entirety, ensures the girls will be able to proceed with their lawsuit, which could lead to a trial.
Anderson criticised the OSAA in a press release to Fox News for attempting to dismiss the arguments.
I’m not shocked that OSAA believed their past conduct didn’t really matter, or the judge did. Anderson stated that the worst offender in bias is the one who cannot see his own actions for what they are.
The America First Policy Institute represents both Anderson and Eckard.
This may appear to be a minor procedural victory, but in reality it is a major one. “Every time a court refuses to silence women who speak the truth about government officials, or even institutions that are collaborating with them, this is a win for First Amendment rights and common sense”, the AFPI stated in a Fox News statement.
When the OSAA celebrates BLM or Pride Month, but punishes plaintiffs who express a similar, protected belief, they expose the hypocrisy behind their actions. Constitutional law does not allow government officials to choose which views are accepted. Today’s decision reaffirmed this truth.
