The US Supreme Court has upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho that bar transgender girls and women from competing on female school sports teams, a ruling that also protects similar bans in 27 states.
In decisions issued Tuesday, the court ruled in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said schools may base eligibility for female sports teams on biological sex. Kavanaugh said, “Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females…The Constitution and Title IX do not require an overhaul of women’s and girls’ sports throughout America.”
It remains unclear exactly how many transgender athletes are affected by the bans across the 27 states.
