Michigan schools face Title IX complaint over transgender volleyball player

A Michigan family filed a Title IX complaint this week after a transgender athlete played on Ann Arbor Skyline’s girls’ volleyball team this fall with no notice to parents.

Parent Sean Lechner announced the filing – against Ann Arbor Public Schools, Monroe Public Schools and the Michigan High School Athletic Association – outside the Monroe County Courthouse this week. He said school officials ignored basic safeguards meant to protect girls’ privacy and safety.

“This is purely about accountability, fairness and justice,” he said. “This is about privacy, safety and dignity of any and all female athletes. Schools do not have the right to hide the biological sex of a male student at the expense of any female student or athlete.”

Lechner said parents were not told a male student would be competing on Skyline’s team or sharing locker room space during a September match at Monroe. He said families found out only later. 

“I’m speaking out today not just for my daughter, but for every family that was betrayed when the adults responsible failed to do their job,” he said. “This burden must not fall on the shoulders of teenage girls. It is now the responsibility of parents, school officials and lawmakers to step up.” 

His daughter, Briley, who plays for Monroe, described learning what had happened after the fact. 

“This was definitely very devastating for all of us girls,” she said,. “This person did disguise themselves to look like a female, so when we found out weeks after that there was another male in the same locker room as us as we are changing, and also playing against us, it caught everyone off guard …” 

The complaint argues the districts violated federal Title IX rules and MHSAA procedures by allowing the athlete to compete without the required waiver. It also accuses administrators of withholding information from parents and failing to follow standard protocols. 

Skyline and Monroe faced each other again in October, though they did not share locker room facilities during the event. 

Several state lawmakers joined the family at the announcement. Laura Perry, who is running for the Michigan House, said the issue touches competitive fairness and female opportunity. 

“Title IX was established to separate athletics by biological sex to ensure equal opportunity, competitive fairness and safety of female athletes,” she said. 

The MHSAA acknowledged it granted one waiver this fall for a transgender athlete, but said it cannot release identifying details. The group said it is navigating conflicting state and federal guidance and will follow whatever legal direction courts or lawmakers provide. 

Monroe Public Schools said it hired a third party to conduct the Title IX review.