(Tampa Free Press)—The Liberty Justice Center has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Lake Oswego School District on behalf of John Parks, a high school track and field coach, who was dismissed for proposing an open division for transgender athletes to ensure fairness for all student-athletes.
John Parks, who has coached athletes at various levels, including high school, collegiate, and Olympic, was terminated in June by the Lake Oswego School District and the Lake Oswego School Board. His dismissal followed a letter he wrote to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) suggesting an open division for transgender athletes in the state championship.
Currently, Oregon allows student-athletes to compete in the division corresponding to their asserted gender identity. However, this policy conflicts with international rules, such as the World Athletics Council’s 2023 ruling that bars transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty from participating in women’s international events. Consequently, transgender athletes competing in girls’ divisions in Oregon are ineligible for international competitions, affecting both the transgender athletes and biological females they might outcompete.
In March 2023, World Aquatics created an open division for all sex and gender identities. Inspired by this, Coach Parks proposed a similar division for Oregon, aiming to align state and international rules and reduce pressure and media attention on transgender athletes. He argued that an open division would allow transgender athletes to compete without facing harassment while ensuring fair competition for female athletes.
On May 23, an OSAA official contacted the Lake Oswego School District, falsely accusing Coach Parks of discriminating against and harassing transgender athletes. Despite his denial of these accusations, the District fired him on June 12, citing a violation of its harassment policy. His appeal request was denied, and the accusations were ignored.
On July 24, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit against the Lake Oswego School District and the Lake Oswego School Board, claiming that Parks was fired in retaliation for his letter, thus violating his constitutional rights to free speech and due process. The lawsuit seeks to reinstate Parks and uphold his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
“Coach Parks was retaliated against, falsely accused of discriminatory behavior, denied an appeal, and fired—just for exercising his constitutional right to free speech as a private citizen,” said Buck Dougherty, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center. “We are proud to stand up for his constitutional rights through this lawsuit, and we look forward to holding the District and the Board accountable for this egregious violation of free speech and due process.”
Coach Parks, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed his commitment to equitable treatment for all students. “I’m a staunch defender of transgender rights. For decades, I’ve been a voice for equitable and inclusive treatment for students with a wide variety of gender and sexual identities, on the track and in the classroom,” he said. “And I’ve seen that these athletic controversies are drawing negative attention to the trans community. Trans athletes have a right to compete, but their bodies have major physical advantages over other students. Oregon’s current policies subject these kids to so much politicization, and that’s a failure by the administration. We have to find a better way to allow all student athletes to compete. For that to happen, we need these matters discussed, not silenced.”
The case, Parks v. Lake Oswego School District, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division, on July 24, 2024. Local counsel Luke Miller, based in Salem, Oregon, assisted in the submission to the Court.