Federal Appeals Court Upholds Right of Transgender Girl to Compete in Girls' Sports in West Virginia

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that barring the transgender student from girls' sports teams violates federal civil rights law, amidst a broader national debate on trans rights.

The court's decision supports 13-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson, who has been on puberty blockers and identifies as female, to remain on her middle school girls' track team.
Judge Toby J. Heytens emphasized that excluding Pepper-Jackson based on circulating testosterone levels lacks substantial justification.
The ruling counters the West Virginia law enacted in 2021, which aimed to restrict transgender girls from competing in girls' sports based on biological sex at birth.
This case is seen as a significant victory for transgender rights, particularly in sports, where legal battles are intensifying across the U.S.
West Virginia Attorney General expressed disappointment and vowed to continue defending the law, highlighting ongoing political and legal disputes over transgender participation in sports.