Federal Appeals Court Overturns West Virginia Transgender Sports Ban

A federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned a West Virginia law that banned transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams.

In a 2-1 ruling, the court ruled that the law violated Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination in schools, according to The Associated Press.

The court also stated that the rule could not be applicable to 13-year-old Becky Pepper Jackson, who has been taking puberty-blocking medication and publicly identified as a girl since elementary school.

If the law was enforced, Pepper Jackson would have been kicked off the middle school track team due her being transgender.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pepper Jackson after GOP Gov. Jim Justice signed the transgender ban into law in 2021.

“This is a tremendous victory for our client, transgender West Virginians, and the freedom of all youth to play as who they are,” ACLU West Virginia attorney Joshua Block said in response to the ruling.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey however said he was disappointed in the decision.

– – –

Charlotte Hazard is a reporter at Just the News.
Photo “Becky Pepper-Jackson” by ACLU.