Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that the Office of Civil Rights found Roanoke College in violation of both the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The investigation concluded that the college discriminated and retaliated against female student-athletes on the basis of sex.
According to Miyares, in August 2023, Roanoke College informed its women’s swim team that a biological male would be joining their team. This swimmer had previously competed with the men’s swim team and underwent hormone therapy to meet NCAA guidelines at the time. The women’s team unanimously objected, citing concerns about fairness in competing against a postpubescent biological male.
The investigation found that the male swimmer outperformed female teammates and was allowed to skip practices, a privilege not extended to others on the team. Female swimmers expressed their concerns repeatedly to college officials but reported being ignored. Despite their objections, Roanoke College kept the male swimmer on the women’s team and maintained its policy.
After some female swimmers publicly opposed the college’s decision, Roanoke College allegedly retaliated by denying several women’s applications for study-abroad programs.
“The VHRA prohibits unlawful discrimination and retaliation by educational institutions on the basis of sex. The Office found reasonable cause that Roanoke College’s policy of allowing post-pubescent males to compete against women in sex-separated collegiate sports violates the VHRA. The Office also found reasonable cause that Roanoke denied the female swimmers privileges granted to the male swimmer and retaliated against them for objecting to the policy by depriving them of study-abroad opportunities. These actions also violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,” said Miyares.
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