Supreme Court upholds ban on men who identify as women from competing in women's sports

The court's majority ruled that state bans in Idaho and West Virginia don't violate the Constitution or federal Title X, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Published: June 30, 2026 10:18am

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld state laws banning men who identify as women from competing in women's sports. 

The court's majority ruled that state bans in Idaho and West Virginia don't violate the Constitution or federal Title X, which prohibits sex discrimination in education, the Associated Press reported

The ruling applied to two separate cases. Lindsay Hercox, who was born male but identifies as female, filed a lawsuit against Idaho's first-in-the nation ban for the opportunity to try out for women's track and cross-country teams at Boise State University. He didn't make either squad. 

In the other case, Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, in Bridgeport, West Virginia, was born male but identifies as female. He takes puberty-blocking medication, and the state issued him a birth certificate recognizing his sex as female. Pepper-Jackson sought to compete in girls sports. 

 

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