The United States Supreme Court has upheld state laws barring transgender girls and women from female school sports, in a landmark ruling on transgender rights.
On Tuesday, the Court overturned lower court decisions that blocked West Virginia and Idaho laws. It held that the bans do not violate the US Constitution or Title IX, the federal law against sex-based discrimination in education.
The Court unanimously agreed that the state laws do not breach Title IX. However, the justices split 6-3 on the constitutional question, with the conservative majority concluding that the restrictions are also consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said states may preserve separate women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex, arguing that such distinctions are justified by concerns over competitive fairness and athlete safety.
The ruling affects public schools and universities in West Virginia and Idaho, while reinforcing similar laws already in force in 25 other U.S. states.
The legal challenges were brought by transgender students who argued the restrictions discriminated against them based on sex and gender identity in violation of federal law and constitutional protections.
The Trump administration supported the states throughout the litigation as part of its broader policy agenda on transgender rights. Following the decision, President Donald Trump welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “big win” for women’s sports.
Supporters of the laws argue they protect fairness in female athletic competitions, while civil rights advocates contend the decision further limits the rights and participation of transgender Americans in public life.
The judgment is the latest in a series of Supreme Court rulings involving transgender rights. In 2025, the Court upheld state bans on certain gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, and it has also allowed other Trump administration policies affecting transgender military service and federal identification documents to take effect.
The decision is expected to influence future legal challenges over transgender participation in sports and could shape education and civil rights policies across the United States.
The decision is expected to influence future legal challenges over transgender participation in sports and could shape education and civil rights policies across the United States.
