CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s transgender sports ban violates the rights of a teen athlete under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools, an appeals court ruled Tuesday.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the law cannot be applied to a 13-year-old who has been taking puberty-blocking medication and publicly identified as a girl since she was in the third grade.
In February 2023, the court had blocked the state’s bid to kick Becky Pepper Jackson off her middle school cross country and track and field teams if the law were enforced.
Judge Toby Heytens wrote that offering her a “choice” between not participating in sports and participating only on boys teams “is no real choice at all.”
“The defendants cannot expect that B.P.J. will countermand her social transition, her medical treatment, and all the work she has done with her schools, teachers, and coaches for nearly half her life by introducing herself to teammates, coaches, and even opponents as a boy,” Heytens wrote.
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Body language expert reveals the one thing keeping Queen Mary and King Frederik together
Depleted Blue Jays overcome illness to beat Baltimore: 'This was a huge (expletive) win'
Jaden Smith and his model girlfriend Sab Zada match in hoodies and trainers for a casual date night
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
North Carolina congressional runoff highlights Trump's influence in GOP politics
2 French prison officers killed and 3 injured in an attack on a prison van in Normandy
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Migrants storm onto California beach after landing in boat as stunned crowds look on
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
Austrian court says convicted rapist Josef Fritzl can be moved to prison from psychiatric detention