In a significant legal and social development, Oregon high school athletes Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard have been recognized for their courageous stance on women’s sports and free speech rights. The two teens recently received the “Most Valuable Patriot Award” at the seventh annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards, honoring their silent protest at a state track and field competition earlier this year. Their protest, which involved stepping down from the medal podium after competing against a transgender athlete, has sparked a broader conversation about fairness in women’s sports and the protection of constitutional rights.
Anderson and Eckard’s protest took place in May during a state-level track and field event. After competing against a biological male athlete who identifies as female, the two Oregon teens chose to quietly step away from the medal podium in a symbolic act of dissent. This gesture was intended to highlight their concerns about the fairness and safety of women’s sports when biological males compete in female categories. Their stand quickly gained national attention, sparking both support and controversy amid ongoing debates over transgender participation in athletics.
Following the protest, Anderson and Eckard filed a lawsuit against the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the governing body for high school sports in the state. The girls allege that the OSAA retaliated against them for their protest by excluding them from official event photos and withholding their medals. Central to their legal argument is the claim that these actions violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful protest. The lawsuit contends that while the OSAA permits certain political expressions—such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride messaging—it singled out Anderson and Eckard for punishment because their views did not align with the league’s favored causes.
A pivotal moment in the lawsuit came when U.S. District Court Judge Youlee Yim You denied the OSAA’s motion to strike a portion of the case that detailed the association’s selective allowance of political speech. This judicial decision essentially upheld the plaintiffs’ argument that the OSAA’s actions were inconsistent and potentially unconstitutional. By allowing the lawsuit to proceed with this key point intact, the judge affirmed that government-affiliated organizations cannot discriminate against certain viewpoints while endorsing others.
Alexa Anderson expressed her frustration with the OSAA’s attempts to dismiss this aspect of the case. In a statement to Fox News Digital, she criticized the association for failing to recognize its own biases and the implications of its behavior. “I’m not surprised OSAA thought their past behavior didn’t matter—or that the judge disagreed,” Anderson said. “That’s the thing with bias: The worst offenders are the ones who can’t see their own behavior for what it is.”
The legal representation for Anderson and Eckard comes from the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a group advocating for conservative policy positions and free speech rights. The AFPI characterized the judge’s ruling as more than just a procedural win, emphasizing its broader significance for defending women’s rights and constitutional protections. “Every time a judge refuses to let government officials or institutions silence women for speaking the truth, it’s a victory for the First Amendment and for common sense,” AFPI stated in a press release. They further highlighted the perceived hypocrisy of the OSAA, noting that while the association openly supports causes like Black Lives Matter and Pride Month, it penalized the plaintiffs for expressing an opposing yet constitutionally protected viewpoint.
The ongoing legal battle and the national spotlight it has attracted have had a profound impact on Anderson and Eckard. Both athletes have continued their track careers at the collegiate level, demonstrating their dedication to the sport despite the controversy. At the Fox Nation Patriot Awards ceremony, both expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and the support they have received from the public. Anderson thanked the audience for amplifying their story and called attention to the importance of their fight. “I’m so incredibly grateful, and none of this would’ve been possible without the support of every single one of you who has seen our story, who has shared it and brought our story and our fight into the national spotlight,” she said.
Reese Eckard echoed these sentiments during her acceptance speech, attributing their courage to their faith and emphasizing the broader significance of their actions for female athletes. “I want to start off by thanking God. I thank God that you’re all here tonight. I thank God that He gave Alexa and I the courage to stand for truth,” Eckard said. “There are so many girls that deserve this award for their courage.”
Their advocacy has also reached broader media platforms. The day after the awards ceremony