HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinnesota high school boys sue the State High School League for right to dance - Toronto Star - 07/25/2018 - Toronto Star - 07/25/20187/26/2018 Minnesota high school boys sue the State High School League for right to dance I The Star
This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation- ready
copies
content
colleagues, clients customers, or
Inquire
aboutpermissions/licensing, ,/ T t; t
Minnesota high school boys sue the
State High School
League right
dance
By JEFF BAEN EN The Associated Press
Wed., July 25, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS—Two teenage boys sued the Minnesota State High School Leag
on Wednesday, alleging it maintains unconstitutional rules that bar boys from I
Dmitri Moua and Zacharyfiledld a federali
Ltarents and the P. '*'. .. `d .'cases
.r
states.students in at least two other
https://www.thestar. com/news/world/2018/07/25/min nesota-high-school-boys-sue-th e-state-hig h-school-leag ue-for-rig ht -to -dance. html 1/4
7/26/2018
Minnesota high school boys sue the State High School League for right to dance I The Star
The two 16 -year-olds want to try out for their schools' dance teams in
suburban Minneapolis, but the league's rules prohibit boys from competing
on girls' dance teams, according to the lawsuit. The suit argues the rules
violate Title IX, the federal law that bars sex discrimination in education
The two 16 -year-olds want to try out for their schools' dance teams in suburban
Minneapolis, but the league's rules prohibit boys from competing on girls' dance
teams, according to the lawsuit. The suit argues the rules violate Title 1X, the
federal law that bars sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal
•
Foundation attorney Caleb Trotter added in a statement: "Minnesota's school
sports league cannot discriminate against boys based on nothing more than an
outdated stereotype that dancing is for girls only."
spokesperson Tim Leighton said Wednesday.
https://www.thestar. co m/news/worl d/201 8/0 7/2 5/m in nesota- h ig h -school -boys-s ue-th e -state- h ig h -school -1 eag ue-for- rig ht -to -d an ce. htrn 1 2/4
7/26/2018 Minnesota high school boys sue the State High School League for right to dance I The Star
Moua, who will be a junior this fall at Roseville Area High School, volunteered to
become the manager for his school's dance team but no longer wants to sit on the
sidelines. He said he finds that dance gives him "self-confidence and a feeling of
acceptance and belonging," the lawsuit said.
Greenwald, who will be a junior at Hopkins High School, began dancing in fifth
grade and "thrives on the athleticism and competition of dance," according to the
lawsuit.
The Minnesota State High School League was previously threatened with a lawsuit
by the California-based Pacific Legal Foundation after the league barred a male
student from the high school dance championship in 2017. The student attended a
high school in northwestern Wisconsin that competed against Minnesota teams.
Attorneys for the student filed a federal civil rights complaint that November. In
May,Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights determined that
there wasn't enough evidence to conclude that the league discriminated aga
binst
oys in the case. The student's school had already withdrawn from the Minnesota
league, and he was able to dance with his team in Wisconsin, according to the
foundation.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association board of directors voted to
suspend its rule to allow a male student to compete on his high school's dance team
this fall. The move came after the student filed a lawsuit with help from the
foundation.
Thousands gather for vIgH to, re-claim." the Danforth after'!
imass shiootlng�
https://www.thestar. co m/news/worl d/201 8/0 7/2 5/m in nesota- h ig h -school -boys-s ue-th e -state- h ig h -school -1 eag ue-for- rig ht -to -d an ce. htm 1 3/4
7/26/2018 Minnesota high school boys sue the State High School League for right to dance I The Star
Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior
written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order
copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com
https://www.thestar. co m/news/worl d/201 8/0 7/2 5/m in nesota- h ig h -school -boys-s ue-th e -state- h ig h -school -1 eag ue-for- rig ht -to -d an ce. htm 1 4/4