Oregon High School Girls Protest Trans Athlete on Podium at State Championship

At the Oregon state track and field championship, two high school seniors, Reese Eckard and Alexa Anderson, made a bold statement by stepping off the medal podium during the high jump ceremony. The duo, representing Sherwood and Tigard High Schools respectively, chose not to stand alongside a transgender athlete from Ida B. Wells High School, who tied for fifth place. Eckard and Anderson, finishing third and fourth, turned away as medals were awarded, a quiet protest against the inclusion of transgender athletes in girls' sports.

An official quickly intervened, gesturing for the girls to step aside, and they complied, moving off the podium. Anderson later explained, "We didn’t step down out of spite. We did it to say this isn’t fair. Protecting girls’ sports means standing up for what’s right." Their actions sparked praise on social media, with figures like Riley Gaines amplifying their stance.

This incident is part of a growing wave of symbolic protests in 2025. From California to Maryland, female athletes are pushing back against policies allowing transgender athletes in women’s competitions. In Oregon, a Democratic-led state, these tensions are particularly pronounced. The America First Policy Institute recently filed a Title IX complaint against Oregon, arguing that such policies violate federal law and undermine fairness for female athletes.

President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a firm stance, issuing an executive order in February to curb transgender participation in girls’ sports. Legal battles are heating up, with the U.S. Department of Justice suing Maine and threatening funding cuts to California over similar controversies. As the debate intensifies, these young athletes are at the heart of a broader cultural and legal storm, their podium protest a snapshot of a nation grappling with fairness and inclusion.