Minnesota Attorney General Sues Trump Administration Over Transgender Sports Policy, Citing State Law Conflicts

St. Paul, Minnesota – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging executive orders that seek to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. The legal action comes as the administration threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply with these directives, creating a direct conflict with Minnesota’s established Human Rights Act.

The lawsuit, filed on April 22, 2025, alleges that two executive orders—the "Gender Ideology Order" and the "Sports Ban Order"—violate the U.S. Constitution and Title IX. Attorney General Ellison asserts that these orders exceed presidential powers and unlawfully attempt to override state-level protections for transgender individuals. He seeks to have the orders declared unconstitutional and unlawful, and to prevent the Department of Justice from enforcing funding threats against Minnesota.

This legal battle follows a formal opinion issued by Ellison in February 2025, which stated that President Trump’s "Sports Ban Order" does not supersede Minnesota law. The Minnesota Human Rights Act has protected transgender individuals from discrimination since 1993, explicitly including gender identity as a protected status. Complying with the federal executive order, Ellison argued, would violate this state law.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) currently allows student participation consistent with gender identity, a policy that has been in place for a decade. This stance has drawn criticism from some, including Dustin Grage, who recently participated in the @xx_xyathletics Born Brave 5K. Grage stated in a social media post, "> Proud to run it and help bring awareness to an important issue: protecting our daughters in their locker rooms and in their sports." He added, "> While the fight may be over in many red states, it’s far from over here in Minnesota."

Grage further criticized state leadership, noting, "> In our legislature, every single Democrat votes to allow men into your daughter’s spaces. Our Governor, Tim Walz, signed this injustice into law. And our Attorney General is actively suing President Trump for trying to protect girls’ sports." The @xx_xyathletics Born Brave 5K, an event focused on advocating for female-only sports spaces, aligns with this perspective. The organization describes its mission as promoting "fairness and safety in women's sports by advocating for policies that reserve female sports categories for biological females."

The lawsuit highlights a broader national debate over transgender rights in sports, with Minnesota positioned as a key battleground. The outcome could have significant implications for state autonomy, federal funding, and the rights of transgender athletes nationwide.