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by: Dan Santella

Posted: Jan 25, 2024 / 06:23 PM CST

Updated: Jan 26, 2024 / 12:39 PM CST

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A Better Balance, the California Women’s Law Center, Equal Rights Advocates, Legal Aid at Work and the Women’s Sports Foundation cover similar ground.

“The five organizations that we filed on behalf of are all civil rights organizations that support the rights of women and girls to participate fully in athletics,” California lawyer Elizabeth Kristen said.

These groups are also supporting the gymnasts suing the Sioux Falls School District. Gymnasts and their parents have an ongoing lawsuit that says the district violated Title IX when it attempted to cut its gymnastics program.

“Our brief in support was filed on behalf of these five civil rights organizations, and we are asking the court to consider the arguments that we make, which include a section on the tremendous and uncontested, really, benefits that girls and women derive from being able to play sports and being able to play sports on a level playing field with boys,” Kristen said.Police in Sioux Falls are asking the public for help locating two missing teens.

Kristen is a lawyer with Legal Aid at Work who wrote a brief filed this week on behalf of the five organizations.

“I do think it’s noteworthy that national civil rights organizations are paying attention to this case,” Kristen said. “I think it shows how important it is. I know sometimes people discount athletes at this level. People focus a lot on the Olympics or the World Cup.”

But as Kristen points out, many more female athletes are never in that kind of spotlight.

“Three million-plus girls play sports in high school, and so if you don’t get a level playing field in high school, you may never be one of those girls that plays sports in college or one of those women that becomes an elite Olympian athlete,” Kristen said.