When news broke last week of transgender athlete playing volleyball at a Broward high school, Superintendent Peter Licata said he learned about the matter just days earlier. Licata reassigned the principal and several other employees from their positions at Monarch. Licata promised a full investigation into the matter. Since July 2021, anyone allowing a transgender female to play on a girls team violates the Fairness In Women’s Sports Act.

Now, REDBROWARD can report the transgender athlete and her parents sued the School Board of Broward County in June 2021. Other parties to the lawsuit included then-Superintendent Robert Runcie, the Florida High School Athletic Association, the Board of Education and Governor Ron DeSantis. On November 6, 2023, Federal Judge Roy Altman dismissed the lawsuit.

D.N.

In June 2021, D.N., an eighth grader, and her parents filed a lawsuit for injunctive relief from the Fairness In Women’s Sport Act which would take effect on July 1, 2021. Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the act prevents biological males from playing on female sports teams. According to the lawsuit, D.N. played on the girls soccer team at her middle school. The lawsuit stated she planned on participating in volleyball as well.

The lawsuit claims D.N. knew she was transgender by the age of three. The parents claimed they became aware her transgender status before entering preschool. At age 7, D.N. played on a girls soccer team. When she was eleven years old, an endocrinologist gave D.N. hormone blockers.

DISMISSAL

On February 7, 2022, Judge Altman granted a motion to dismiss without prejudice the matter against Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida High Schools Athletic Association and the Broward County School Board.

On November 6, 2023, the Judge granted a motion to dismiss by the remaining plaintiffs-Florida Commissioner Of Education Manny Diaz and the Florida State Board of Education.

Altman ruled that the controversial law did not violate constitutional equal protection and due-process rights and Title IX, a federal law that prevents discrimination based on sex in education programs. He left open the possibility that attorneys for the Broward County student, identified by the initials D.N., could file a revised lawsuit on the protection and Title IX issues.

INVESTIGATION

Two weeks later, Superintendent Peter Licata said a “constituent” informed him that a transgender student is a member of the Monarch High School volleyball team. Licata immediately reassigned Monarch High principal James Cecil, Monarch High assistant principal Kenneth May and three other school employees.

Licata told the media the employees were not being punished, just reassigned during the investigation.

One of the employees reassigned by Licata was a party to the lawsuit.

Three sources at the Broward County School District told REDBROWARD Superintendent Licata was never informed of the matter until ten days ago.

Licata was hired in June 2023.

The District’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is conducting the investigation.