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.
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
Wine to five! Dolly Parton 'planning to launch own range of alcoholic drinks'
BMW to further invest $2.8 bln in NE China production base
Most beautiful bookstores of the year honored at national reading conference
Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
This Week: Consumer confidence, Fed policy statement, April jobs report
Most beautiful bookstores of the year honored at national reading conference
Taylor Swift celebrates the success of The Tortured Poets Department with behind
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
New York judge rejects Trump's request to delay hush money trial
Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
Wine to five! Dolly Parton 'planning to launch own range of alcoholic drinks'