FORT LAUDERDALE -- The parents of a transgender minor are suing Florida's governor, along with others, for SB 1028, which will prevent their child from participating in female sports.
Jessica N., mother, and Gary N., father of minor D.N., filed a complaint on June 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida High School Athletic Association, Broward County School Board, Superintendent Robert Runcie, the Florida State Board of Education and Commissioner Richard Corcoran for violation of Title IX against SB 1028, which would prevent D.N. from participating in girls athletics.
According to the complaint, D.N. is a thirteen-year-old, eighth-grade student who likes to participate in sports. Under SB 1028, she would no longer be able to participate in female sports that she loves, the suit says.
From a very young age, D.N. identified as a girl and even in pre-school she presented as female, the suit says. As early as three years old, D.N. exhibited behavior that traditionally is associated with being a girl and this year, under medical supervision, she began receiving estrogen, and will continue to do so for the rest of her life, the suit says.
The parents allege that team sports provide D.N. and other young people with opportunities to learn important life skills such as cooperation, leadership and how to deal with adversity and success. Sports improve self-esteem and decrease the isolation that adolescents often feel, they say. In this case, their child should be able to participate in female sports because she identifies as a female, the suit says.
Jessica and Gary N. seek the right to be free from what they say is unnecessary government intrusion into their private affairs, and a declaration that their daughter be able to play female sports as a transgender female. They are represented by Jason A. Ross of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida case number 0:21-cv-61344-RKA