Supreme Court Allows States to Restrict Transgender Athletes in Girls’ and Women’s Sports

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states may prohibit transgender girls and women from competing on female school sports teams.

The decision, issued Tuesday and reported by Reuters, upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia that base eligibility for girls’ and women’s teams on biological sex. The ruling overturned lower-court decisions that had sided with transgender students challenging the restrictions.

All nine justices agreed the state laws do not violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The court divided 6-3 over whether the restrictions also comply with the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, with the court’s six conservative justices in the majority.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that states may maintain separate athletic teams for male and female students and determine eligibility for female teams based on biological sex. The majority said the laws serve state interests in competitive fairness and safety.

Supporters of the laws argue the restrictions protect fair competition and athletic opportunities for girls and women. President Donald Trump, whose administration supported Idaho and West Virginia in the case, praised the ruling.

Opponents argue the bans discriminate against transgender students and exclude them from opportunities available to their classmates. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the students challenging the laws, called the decision heartbreaking.

The ruling allows states to adopt or enforce such restrictions but does not require them to do so. Idaho, West Virginia and 25 other states have similar laws in place.