(1-13-26) The Supreme Court is hearing arguments today over two state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams.
Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans.
The justices will decide if state laws banning transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment or the landmark 1972 anti-sex discrimination law known as Title IX.
Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old high school sophomore from West Virginia, has been taking puberty-blocking medication, publicly identified as a girl since age 8 and has been issued a West Virginia birth certificate recognizing her as female. She is the only transgender person who has sought to compete in girls’ sports in West Virginia.
Transgender West Virginia Teen Challenges Athletic Ban at Supreme Court
About today’s hearing-
Pepper-Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press —
“It’s something I’m here to do because … this is important to me. I know it’s important to other people. So, like, I’m here for it.”
Pepper-Jackson finished statewide third-place in the discus and eighth among shot putters.
The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear Little v.Hecox, a challenge brought by a transgender student against Idaho’s 2020 ban on transgender athletes and requirements for sex testing. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Idaho, Legal Voice, and Cooley LLP represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Stateline Sports Network 