The Supreme Court has established a new nationwide precedent that allows states to protect women’s sports. The justices ruled in favor of West Virginia and Idaho on Thursday against trans athletes who sued to gain access to girls’ sports.

Background

The states were backed by the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), while the trans athletes were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Cooley Legal. The high court upheld state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.

Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, the court held that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females. They may determine eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex.

Reaction

West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey praised the court’s decision in a statement. “This is a monumental victory for every female athlete who has ever competed, or dreamed of competing, on a fair and safe playing field,” McCuskey said.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador echoed McCuskey’s statement. “Today’s decision is a victory for common sense, fairness, and the countless girls and women who dedicate themselves to athletics,” Labrado said.

The ruling marks a massive victory for “Save Women’s Sports” advocates and conservative lawmakers who have passed state legislation on the issue. The decision validates and protects the 27 other state laws that have been passed in recent years to ban biological males from women’s sports.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.