The Supreme Court will consider whether states can prohibit transgender athletes from participating in female school sports. The case centers on Idaho and West Virginia.
The justices took up the appeals made by the attorneys general of the two states after lower courts ruled in favor of the transgender students behind the initial cases. The Supreme Court will now weigh whether the bans on transgender athletes in the states violate the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause as well as Title IX.
“It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said in a statement. “The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women’s sports for women. We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women’s Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX. And most importantly: It protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair.”
Similarly, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said, “Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field. I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports.”
“Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve,” Labroador noted.
