The Supreme Court has upheld state laws that prohibit transgender athletes who identify as women from competing on girls' and women's sports teams. The ruling allows schools in Idaho and West Virginia to determine athletic eligibility based on the gender assigned at birth, a decision seen as a significant win for conservative policies and former President Donald Trump, who has campaigned on restricting transgender rights.
The court considered the legality of laws enacted in Idaho and West Virginia. Idaho's 2020 Fairness in Women's Sports Act bans transgender women and girls from participating in women's and girls' sports in public schools at all levels. West Virginia's 2021 Save Women's Sports Act bars transgender women and girls from participating in women's and girls' sports teams in public secondary schools and public colleges.
Lower courts had previously struck down both laws, citing violations of Title IX and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. However, the Supreme Court's decision appears to favor the states' ability to legislate on this matter, with justices indicating a reluctance for federal courts to intervene in state-level athletic policies during oral arguments.
Former President Trump had made transgender issues a central theme in his 2024 presidential campaign, vowing to penalize doctors providing gender-affirming care to minors. His campaign also invested in ads targeting policies related to transgender athletes. Trump characterized the promotion of gender identity concepts to children as "child abuse" in a social media post.
The debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports has gained national attention, highlighted by cases such as that of University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male who identifies as female, and former competitor Riley Gaines. Thomas competed on the women's team during the 2021-22 season, winning a national championship, which intensified discussions about fairness and participation in women's sports. Gaines has become a prominent figure in advocating for policies restricting transgender women's participation.
Recently, a transgender high school track athlete, AB Hernandez, won multiple events at a California competition, further fueling the public discourse. Hernandez, who was assigned male at birth, secured victories in the girls' high jump, long jump, and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section Track and Field Masters meet. Images emerged of protesters outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments for the cases.