The US Supreme Court has upheld two state laws barring transgender girls and women from female sports teams.
In a decision handed down on Tuesday (30th June), the court sided with West Virginia and Idaho in two closely watched cases, West Virginia v B.P.J. and Little v Hecox.
The ruling protects similar bans in 27 states, and affects transgender athletes competing in school and college sports nationwide.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said schools may base eligibility for female sports teams on biological sex.
“Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females,” he wrote.
“The Constitution and Title IX do not require an overhaul of women’s and girls’ sports throughout America.”
As per the New York Times, Kavanaugh also said: “No student-athlete on either side of the issue, whether a biological female or transgender, deserves to be ostracised or vilified.”
Trans high school student Parker Tirrell said she is feeling “sheer disappointment” over the decision.
It remains unclear exactly how many transgender athletes are affected by the bans across the 27 states, with advocates arguing that the numbers are tiny and that trans athletes pose no threat to women’s sport.
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