Blair v. Washington State University
Supreme Court of Washington
740 P.2d 1379 (1987)
Washington State University's (defendant) men's athletic programs received over $3 million in funding, mostly from football, while women's programs received under $700,000, mostly from state appropriations. Blair and other female athletes and coaches (plaintiffs) sued, claiming WSU's distribution of athletic opportunities and money violated the state Equal Rights Amendment and anti-discrimination law. The trial court found unlawful sex discrimination and ordered WSU to increase funding and opportunities for women's athletics over time, but excluded the football program from its calculations of participation opportunities, scholarships, and fund distribution. Blair appealed that exclusion.
Whether the purpose of the Washington State Equal Rights Amendment is to end special treatment for, or discrimination against, either sex, such that a university cannot exclude its football program from equity calculations.