High school coach fired after pushing to change state trans athlete law: 'Vilified' for standing up for girls

Aayden Gallagher, a transgender runner from McDaniel High School, won the Oregon 6A girls' 200-meter championship on Saturday.

An Oregon high school track and field coach says his First Amendment rights were violated when a local school district terminated his contract for sending letters to state officials, advocating for a change in laws concerning transgender athletes.

John Parks had been the head track and field coach at Lake Oswego High School outside of Portland from Jan. 2023 until backlash ensued after he penned letters to Peter Weber, the Executive Director of the Oregon Student Activities Association (OSAA), and State Sen. Rob Wagner in May, seeking changes to current policies allowing transgender students to compete under the gender they identify as, local outlet KATU reported.

His actions allegedly violated district policy. An investigation began after the district reportedly received a formal complaint alleging Parks had made a transgender student athlete from a different school feel "unwelcome and discriminated against" at events throughout the spring, something Parks denied, The Oregonian reported.

The investigation ended with Parks' termination.

OREGON TRACK AND FIELD COACH SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICT FIRED HIM AFTER HE ADVOCATED FOR TRANSGENDER LAW CHANGES

Former Lake Oswego High School Coach John Parks is challenging his termination after he was released for pushing for a change to Oregon's transgender athlete policies. (Getty Images)

Parks told Fox News Digital on Monday he feels he was "vilified" for standing up for girls' right to compete fairly.

"It's kind of like a slap in the face to say, ‘I’ve fought for you, I've got girls scholarships to some of the best schools in the country – guys as well – and