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Supreme Court Weighs State Bans on Transgender Girls in School Sports

Court watchers now see the state restrictions as likely to survive, with potential effects across at least 25 states.

Overview

  • The justices heard arguments Tuesday in disputes from West Virginia and Idaho over whether schools may require athletes to compete based on biological sex.
  • West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports law, which was blocked by lower courts, is before the Court after a challenge by a student seeking to run on girls’ teams.
  • The paired cases involve a 15-year-old cross-country runner in West Virginia and a college track athlete in Idaho, positioning the Court to set a national standard.
  • Editorial assessments report that most observers expect the Court to uphold the state laws, though a decision has not yet been issued.
  • Opinion pieces frame the issue as balancing fairness in competition with compassion for transgender youths, with a 2024 Gallup poll showing 69% oppose allowing participation based on gender identity.