Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar wants Democratic Minnesota AG Keith Ellison to investigate USA Powerlifting because it won’t allow biological males to compete as women. Omar sent a letter to USA Powerlifting on behalf of JayCee Cooper, a male athlete who identifies as a transgender woman. Omar accused the powerlifting organization of violating Minnesota state laws against discrimination. WASHINGTON — Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar recommended Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison investigate USA Powerlifting for barring biological males from women’s events, according to a Jan. 31 letter she sent USA Powerlifting. Omar called it a “myth” that men who identify as transgender women have a “direct competitive advantage” and copied Ellison on the letter, “with a recommendation that he investigate this discriminatory behavior.” (RELATED: Biological Male Wins World Championship In Women’s Cycling) Omar sent her letter on behalf of JayCee Cooper, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, and whom Omar identified as one of her constituents. She signed the letter on Jan. 31, though it only became public on Tuesday after Cooper posted a picture to Instagram, where it caught the attention of OutSports. Omar’s office confirmed the authenticity of the letter to The Daily Caller News Foundation. USA Powerlifting in late January announced that men who identify as transgender women aren’t allowed to compete as women. Female athletes who identify as men are allowed to compete, but are required to abide by the same bans on external androgens as other athletes. “Men naturally have a larger bone structure, higher bone density, stronger connective tissue and higher muscle density than women,” the weightlifting association notes in an online explainer. “These traits, even with reduced levels of testosterone do not go away. While [male-to-female athletes] may be weaker and less muscle than they once were, the biological benefits given them at birth still remain over that of a female.” Omar’s letter accuses USA Powerlifting of violating the state’s human rights laws. “Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, discrimination against anyone based on their gender identity is illegal. This includes in public accommodations, and in Minnesota, organizations such as USA Powerlifting. In fact, just last month a Minnesota jury awarded Ms. Christina Ginther $20,000 after the Independent Women’s Football League refused to allow her to participate because she is transgender,” Omar warned. “I urge you to reconsider this discriminatory, unscientific policy and follow the example of the International Olympic Committee. The myth that trans women have a ‘direct competitive advantage’ is not supported by medical science, and it continues to stoke fear and violence against one of the most at-risk communities in the world,” wrote the congresswoman. USA Powerlifting’s explainer states that the organization is in compliance with the guidelines, under which “each sport is given the latitude to determine how the guidelines are applied.” Ellison, a Democrat, was Omar’s predecessor in Minnesota’s fifth congressional seat, which he left to run for state attorney general. Ellison previously called for a boycott of the NFL over its rules prohibiting protests during the national anthem. Henry Rodgers reported from Washington, D.C., and Peter Hasson reported from Texas. Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson Follow Henry Rodgers on Twitter @HenryRodgersDC Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON, D.C., February 7, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Freshman Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has embarked on a new cause: punishing a powerlifting organization for excluding biological males from women’s events. Earlier this week, LifeSiteNews reported that USA Powerlifting, the American arm of the International Powerlifting Federation, has issued guidelines rejecting use of androgens by athletes including women seeking to “transition from female to male,” as well as disqualifying “male to female” competitors entirely. “Female-to-male” athletes are allowed, provided they don’t use androgens. Noting the “anabolic nature” of androgens, the organization says it won’t make an exception to its ban on the drugs for transgenders and explains that whatever gender a competitor claims to be, biological differences remain. Breitbart reported that this isn’t sitting well with Omar, who has written a letter to USA Powerlifting and Democrat Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on behalf of gender-confused constituent JayCee Cooper. “Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, discrimination against anyone based on their gender identity is illegal. This includes in public accommodations, and in Minnesota, organizations such as USA Powerlifting,” Omar wrote. “In fact, just last month a Minnesota jury awarded Ms. Christina Ginther $20,000 after the Independent Women’s Football League refused to allow her to participate because she is transgender. “I urge you to reconsider this discriminatory, unscientific policy and follow the example of the International Olympic Committee,” the letter continues. “The myth that trans women have a ‘direct competitive advantage’ is not supported by medical science, and it continues to stoke fear and violence against one of the most at-risk communities in the world.” Omar concluded the letter by recommending that Ellison investigate USA Powerlifting for allegedly violating the state’s “human rights” law. Ellison has not yet announced whether he will do so. Cooper, a man claiming to be a woman, says he has complied with all of the IOC’s criteria for transgender athletes, but Powerlifting USA rejected him anyway. “No one deserves to be excluded because of who they are. (USA Powerlifting’s) policy, and how I’m being treated IS NOT OKAY,” he said. “The time for trans inclusion is NOW.” USA Powerlifting’s Transgender Participation Policy acknowledges the IOC’s general acceptance of transgender athletes but argues that it “also allows sports to determine the impact on fair play through such inclusion,” and therefore the group choose to follow the International Powerlifting Federation Medical Committee’s judgment on the matter. Section 1 of the IOC guidelines states that the “overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition,” and therefore “(r)estrictions on participation are appropriate to the extent that they are necessary and proportionate to the achievement of that objective.” “Through analysis the impact of maturation in the presence naturally occurring androgens as the level necessary for male development, significant advantages are had, including but not limited to, increased body and muscle mass, bone density, bone structure, and connective tissue,” Powerlifting USA argues. “Men naturally have a larger bone structure, higher bone density, stronger connective tissue and higher muscle density than women,” it continues. “These traits, even with reduced levels of testosterone do not go away,” it continues. “While MTF (male-to-female) may be weaker and less muscle than they once were, the biological benefits given them at birth still remain over than of a female.” Since being elected in the November midterms, Rep. Omar has faced accusations of anti-Semitism and came under fire last month for tweeting a series of false accusations against the Covington Catholic students involved in a viral video from the March for Life. Last month, she also floated a conspiracy theory that moderate Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is being blackmailed into supporting President Donald Trump.<doc-sep>Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has asked Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to investigate USA Powerlifting over a decision to bar transgender women from competition because testosterone is used in transitioning. In a letter sent to Ellison in late January, Omar said her request was spurred on by USA Powerlifting’s decision to deny the application of JayCee Cooper, a trans woman, to compete in a Minnesota event. “I urge you to reconsider this discriminatory, unscientific policy and follow the example of the International Olympic Committee,” Omar wrote. “The myth that trans women have a ‘direct competitive advantage’ is not supported by medical science, and it continues to stoke fear and violence against one of the most at-risk communities in the world.” ‘NOT FAIR’: WORLD CYCLING BRONZE MEDALIST CRIES FOUL AFTER TRANSGENDER WOMAN WINS GOLD As of 2015, IOC guidelines require biologically born men who identify as transgender to block certain amounts of natural testosterone, but no longer require gender reassignment surgery in order to compete with one gender or the other. Cooper took to Instagram to post a photo of Omar’s letter and thank the freshman lawmaker for her support. “No one deserves to be excluded because of who they are,” Cooper said. “Their policy, and how I’m being treated. IS NOT OKAY. The time for trans inclusion is NOW.” In its statement defending the move, USA Powerlifting said the organization is “not a fit for every athlete and for every medical condition or situation” and added that, following the medical policies adopted by the International Powerlifting Federation, it does not permit the use of “testosterone or other androgens, commonly used to assist in transition from female to male.” PARENTS PETITION FOR POLICY CHANGE AFTER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES DOMINATE AT HIGH SCHOOL TRACK MEET USA Powerlifting said the decision was made in part due to the “potential advantage in strength sports” that men generally have over women. "Through analysis the impact of maturation in the presence naturally occurring androgens as the level necessary for male development, significant advantages are had, including, but not limited to, increased body and muscle mass, bone density, bone structure, and connective tissue," the statement declared. "These advantages are not eliminated by reduction of serum androgens such as testosterone yielding a potential advantage in strength sports such as powerlifting." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Cooper, who can still compete in small local events, is not the first trans athlete to be criticized for having an alleged unfair advantage. Last October, an American bronze medalist who lost a world championship cycling race to a transgender woman from Canada called the results as unfair. In June, a transgender high school student, born a male, dominated female competition in 100- and 200-meter dashes in a Connecticut state track-and-field championship, triggering a backlash from parents. Fox News’ Lucia I. Suarez Sang contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
If Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has her way, USA Powerlifting will soon find themselves under investigation for discrimination for preventing biological males from competing in women’s events. The newly-minted representative from Minnesota copied Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on a letter she sent to USA Powerlifting. In which, she requested that Ellison investigate the powerlifting governing body for discrimination. Specifically, discrimination against biological males, by not allowing them to compete in women’s events. Omar believes USA Powerlifting is discriminating against males who identify as transgender women, based on the “myth” that they have a “direct competitive advantage” over biological females. Omar’s letter was prompted by the story of JayCee Cooper, a male weightlifter who identifies as a woman. Cooper also resides in Omar’s district. Omar wrote: I am writing to express my concern over a recent decision by USA powerlifting to bar participation by my constituent, Ms. JayCee Cooper, because she is transgender. Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, discrimination against anyone based on their gender identity is illegal. This includes in public accommodations, and in Minnesota, organizations such as USA Powerlifting. In fact, just last month a Minnesota jury awarded Ms. Christina Ginther $20,000 after the Independent Women’s Football League refused to allow her to participate because she is transgender. I urge you to reconsider this discriminatory, unscientific policy and follow the example of the International Olympic Committee. The myth that trans women have a “direct competitive advantage” is not supported by medical science, and it continues to stoke fear and violence against one of the most at-risk communities in the world. While I do not have direct jurisdiction over this matter as a U.S. congresswoman, I’m sending this letter to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison with a recommendation that he investigate this discriminatory behavior. In January, USA Powerlifting issued a rule banning biological males from competing in women’s events. Conversely, biological females are allowed to compete in men’s events. However, the women are required to follow the same protocols regarding testosterone, and other performance enhancers. The weightlifting governing body explained their reasoning on their website. “Men naturally have a larger bone structure, higher bone density, stronger connective tissue and higher muscle density than women. These traits, even with reduced levels of testosterone do not go away. While [male-to-female athletes] may be weaker and less muscle than they once were, the biological benefits given them at birth still remain over that of a female.” In her letter, Omar makes specific reference to International Olympic Committee guidelines, when deciding how to incorporate transgender athletes. However, as USA Powerlifting points out, IOC guidelines give various sports some latitude when it comes to implementing policy regarding transgender participation. “…the IOC Guidelines also allows sports to determine the impact on fair play through such inclusion. The IPF Medical Committee, while respecting the rights of those who choose to transition, has been consistent in its opinion that use of testosterone and participation of male to female transgender athletes in our sport compromises fair play.” Ellison has not yet said whether he will investigate USA Powerlifting. Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn