In a landmark decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has overturned West Virginia’s ban on transgender athletes competing in female sports in middle and high schools and colleges. The ruling came down on Tuesday, reversing an earlier decision that had upheld the ban.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of a 13-year-old transgender girl who participated in middle school track, challenging the constitutionality of the ban. In their decision, the Fourth Circuit ruled that the law violates Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools.
West Virginia’s Attorney General expressed deep disappointment in the court’s 2-1 ruling, maintaining that he believed the Save Women’s Sports Act was constitutionally permissible. However, this ruling marks a significant legal victory for transgender rights advocates and sets a precedent for how states handle transgender athlete participation in school sports.
The Save Women’s Sports Act had narrowly passed the state Senate in 2021 before being overwhelmingly approved in the House of Delegates. This overturning is a step towards equality and fairness for all athletes, regardless of their gender identity.
