Supreme Court hears high-stakes Title IX case on transgender athletes

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a closely watched Title IX case that could reshape how schools nationwide regulate participation in girls’ and women’s sports.

The case, West Virginia v. B.P.J., centers on a 2021 state law that bars transgender girls from competing on female school sports teams. State officials argue the law is necessary to preserve fair competition and equal athletic opportunities for biological females, while challengers contend it violates Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination.

The high court will decide whether Title IX – the federal law enacted in 1972 to ensure equal educational opportunities for women and girls – permits states to limit participation in sex-segregated sports teams based on biological sex, or whether such restrictions unlawfully discriminate against transgender students. 

The court will also decide whether the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prevents a state from offering separate boys’ and girls’ sports teams based on biological sex.

The case began when a biological male student who identifies as female challenged the law in federal court. A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled against the state, prompting West Virginia officials to seek Supreme Court intervention.

The justices’ decision could have sweeping consequences, as over 20 states have enacted laws restricting transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports. School districts, athletic associations, and courts across the country are watching closely for guidance on how Title IX applies amid ongoing debates over gender identity, sex-based classifications, and athletic fairness.

A ruling is expected by the end of the court’s term this summer.