A transgender woman has called it quits on her lawsuit challenging Idaho’s first-in-the-nation ban on trans women and girls joining sports teams that align with their gender identity. Lindsay Hecox’s case was positioned to be considered by the Supreme Court, but Hecox voluntarily dismissed her own case last week, citing harassment that affects her safety and wellbeing.
“From the beginning of this case,” she said in a document filed with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 2, “I have come under negative public scrutiny from certain quarters. I also have observed increased intolerance generally for people who are transgender and specifically for transgender women who participate in sports.”
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Hecox filed the lawsuit in 2020 when she was a freshman at Boise State University. She wanted to participate in track and field and cross country with teams that align with her new gender.
However, the state’s ban, which took effect in July 2020, barred transgender women and girls from playing on female sports teams.
Hecox’s lawsuit claimed the bill violated her constitutional and statutory rights.
Two federal courts halted the implementation of Idaho’s ban, which in turn stopped Hecox’s university from enforcing the ban. The lawsuit made its way to the Supreme Court, which agreed in July to hear the case.
‘Extremely difficult decision’ to withdraw
Hecox, now a college senior, told the Supreme Court she fears she’ll have trouble graduating if she continues pursuing her lawsuit.
“I am afraid that if I continue my lawsuit, I will personally be subjected to harassment that will negatively impact my mental health, my safety and my ability to graduate as soon as possible,” the 24-year-old said.
“Living a healthy and safe life is also a priority of mine — one which, in turn, will help me graduate,” Hecox wrote. “After deep consideration, and despite the positive role that women’s team sports have played in my life, including at BSU, I have made the extremely difficult decision to cease playing women’s sports in any context covered by H.B. 500 and to dismiss my case.”
Idaho’s solicitor general of Idaho, Alan Hurst, said he plans to oppose the dismissal of Hecox’s case, given the work his office has put into preparing to defend the state law in court.
If the Supreme Court agrees to Hecox’s request to drop her case, she will not be able to refile the lawsuit. Hecox also said she will not play any sports on her college’s female teams.
The Supreme Court still is expected to consider state bans on transgender athletes. A similar case on transgender sports participation from West Virginia is set to go before the court this term.
