US Supreme Court upholds transgender sports ban | Political Affairs

The court ruled 9-0 that the state law does not violate Title IX’s civil rights.

The US Supreme Court has upheld state law that bar transgender women and girls who play in sports teams that don’t match the sex they were assigned at birth.

The decision follows laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit women and girls from playing on women’s teams. Idaho and West Virginia laws designate athletic teams at public schools, including universities, based on “natural sex” and ban “male students” from female teams.

The justices have overturned lower court rulings that have sided with students who have challenged the bans in both countries as violating US anti-discrimination laws.

The court decided 9-0 that the state law does not violate Title IX of the civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination in education “on the basis of sex”.

However, the justices split 6-3 in deciding that these measures do not violate the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

“Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we believe that states can preserve women’s and girls’ sports for women of birth.” They may know that they have the right to play sports for women and girls because of their natural sexuality.

More than a dozen Republican-led states have passed bans on female athletes. The high court’s decision may also affect them.

This is the latest ruling from the conservative majority court to restrict the rights of transgender people. Last year, the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enact a policy barring non-gay individuals from choosing to apply for passports that match their gender identity.

Trump celebrated Friday’s decision, calling it a “huge victory” on Truth Social.

“GREAT WIN: US SUPREME COURT RULES NOW PEOPLE PLAY WOMEN’S GAMES. Ah!

Trump has been fighting for transgender rights since he returned to office in January 2025. He has rejected the concept of gender identity and has issued several laws restricting transgender rights, including in sports.