A high school track and field athlete in Oregon claims she was told to step away from an official photo after staging a silent protest during a state championship medal ceremony involving a transgender competitor.
Alexa Anderson, a senior from Tigard High School who placed third in the high jump, says she and fourth-place finisher Reese Eckard chose to leave the podium as Lia Rose, a transgender athlete from Ida B. Wells High School, was being recognized. Rose tied for fifth in the event.
According to Anderson, an official overseeing the ceremony directed her to “get out of the photo” to exclude her from the official documentation of the awards. She stated that the protest was her way of advocating for fairness in girls’ sports, expressing concern that biological males competing in female divisions undermine opportunities for young women.
The protest quickly gained attention, with several organizations weighing in on the broader issue. A formal complaint has been submitted to federal authorities alleging Title IX violations in Oregon’s current sports policies.
While state athletic officials have not publicly addressed the protest or the athlete’s claim of being removed from the photograph, the incident has reignited national debates over transgender participation in youth sports.