Court overturns W.Va.'s transgender sports ban

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A federal appeals court has overturned the West Virginia transgender sports ban.

The ruling came down Tuesday from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

This ruling on West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act reverses an earlier decision in favor of the state.

The ban focused on preventing transgender athletes from competing in female sports in middle and high schools and colleges.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of a 13-year-old transgender girl who participated in middle school track.

In Tuesday’s ruling, the Fourth Circuit ruled that the law violates Title IX, which is the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discriminations in schools.

In a statement, West Virginia’s Attorney General said he was deeply disappointed in the court’s 2-1 ruling and believed The Save Women’s Sports act is constitutionally permissible.

The bill had narrowly passed the state Senate back in 2021, before being overwhelmingly approved in the House of Delegates.