Supreme Court Hears Major Case on Transgender Athletes

By Leila Gardner 

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case that could impact school sports nationwide. The justices are deciding whether states can ban transgender girls from competing on girls’ teams, focusing on laws that Idaho and West Virginia have already passed.. 

Supporters of these bans argue that separating sports by biological sex is to ensure fairness. According to arguments discussed in court and reported by Reuters and SCOTUSblog, the states think that people assigned male at birth might have physical advantages.

These advantages include greater strength or speed, even after transitioning. Since sports often involve limited spots and scholarships, supporters say that these laws are protecting opportunities for cisgender girls.

They argue that Title IX, a federal law designed to prevent sex discrimination in education, allows schools to seperate teams by sex and expand opportunites for woman, not gender identity. Some Supreme Court justices appeared sympathetic to this argument.

“States should play a role in deciding school sports policies because they are responsible for setting education standards and protecting students. Each state is different, so they should be able to make rules that reflect what they believe is fair while still following federal laws. States can also respond to concerns from parents, students, and schools more directly,” said sophomore Bianca Gutierrez.

During the hearing, conservative justices questioned whether courts should force schools to change long-standing sports rules. They also suggested that states, not the federal government, decided how to organize school athletics. 

However, opponents of the ban argue that it’s unfair and unjust. Civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union argue that these laws are discriminatory and violate both the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. 

“I believe that schools should have co-ed teams so that everyone is able to play the sports that they love. It is fair for everyone and no one is feeling left out or excluded.” said Alyssa Gardner, a student at Broward University.

According to the ACLU, lawyers for transgender athletes have explained that many transgender girls take hormone treatment that lower testosterone levels, which can reduce the physical differences.

Opponents also argue that there is little evidence that transgender athletes dominate school sports. Instead, they say the bans harm transgender youth by denying them the chance to participate in activities that allow them to build confidence and create a sense of belonging. 

Supporters of transgender athletes had gathered outside the Supreme Court emphasizing the importance of inclusion and equal treatment. They also spoke out publicly about the case.

The Supreme Court is expected to reveal their decision by the summer of 2026. This decision could have effects even beyond sports, influencing how transgender rights are treated in education and many other areas as well.