A Michigan father has filed a federal lawsuit against his daughter’s school district and state athletic officials, alleging that her civil rights were violated when she competed against a transgender girl during a high school volleyball match in September 2025.
Sean Lechner filed the lawsuit October 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The defendants include Monroe Public Schools, Superintendent Andrew Shaw, Athletic Director Chet Hesson, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
The lawsuit centers on a September 9, 2025, volleyball match between Monroe High School and Ann Arbor Skyline High School, which Skyline won 3-0.
Lechner alleges that school officials knew a transgender girl would be competing on Skyline’s team but failed to notify Monroe players or their parents. He also claims his daughter and the transgender athlete shared a locker room, violating protections under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs.
Locker Room Allegations at Center of Dispute
During a December 2025 press conference announcing an earlier Title IX complaint, Lechner’s daughter, Briley, described learning afterward that a transgender athlete had participated in the match.
However, Briley acknowledged that she had not personally seen the transgender student inside the locker room.
The lawsuit argues that allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ athletics creates unfair competitive conditions and violates students’ privacy rights.
Lechner is seeking unspecified monetary damages, a declaration that the district violated Title IX, and restrictions preventing his daughter from being required to compete against transgender girls.
Previous Investigation Found No Violation
The lawsuit follows an earlier complaint filed in December 2025.
Monroe Public Schools subsequently commissioned an independent investigation, which concluded that the allegations of Title IX violations were unsubstantiated. The district also adopted a policy ending shared locker room arrangements between opposing teams.
The Lechners challenged the investigation’s findings, but their appeal was unsuccessful.
In response to the latest litigation, Monroe Public Schools stated that it remained committed to complying with applicable laws and protecting student safety.
Transgender Student Privacy Raises Additional Questions
The case also raises questions about whether schools should be required to disclose a student’s transgender status to opposing teams and their families.
Equality Michigan Executive Director Erin Knott previously criticized demands for such disclosures, arguing that Title IX was never intended to require schools to reveal children’s private information.
The MHSAA evaluates transgender athlete eligibility individually. During the 2024-25 school year, the association granted just two eligibility waivers for transgender students, illustrating how few athletes are involved in the broader statewide debate.
The lawsuit arrives amid continuing legal and political disputes over transgender participation in school athletics.
Whether Title IX requires schools to disclose a student’s transgender status or prohibits transgender girls from competing on girls’ teams remains contested.
For now, the allegations against Monroe officials remain unproven, and the federal court has not ruled on the merits of the lawsuit.
