Staff Reports
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has vowed to keep fighting for the integrity of women’s sports by appealing a recent court ruling that overturned the state’s transgender sports ban all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. He made this commitment during a press conference at the state Capitol in Charleston on April 24, where he also announced plans to file a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge the decision that nullified West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Bill.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has vowed to appeal an unfavorable court ruling overturning the state’s transgender sports ban all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.https://t.co/kh4gm5nhlo
— NTD Television (@TelevisionNTD) April 25, 2024
The ruling, issued by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, blocked the enforcement of the state’s law banning transgender students from participating in single-sex sports teams that do not align with their biological sex. The court argued that the law violated the constitutional rights of a 13-year-old eighth-grade athlete who identifies as female but was assigned male at birth.
Morrisey defended the Save Women’s Sports Bill as a reasonable measure based on biological differences and fairness. He stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of women’s sports and the need to safeguard opportunities for young women, arguing that allowing biological males to compete in female sports undermines both fairness and safety. The attorney general criticized the appeals court’s ruling, promising to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court to ensure that the voices of West Virginia citizens are heard.
Riley Gaines, an athlete and policy advocate, joined Morrisey at the press conference to emphasize the potential safety risks associated with allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports. Gaines highlighted her experience as a collegiate swimmer competing against a transgender athlete who identifies as female, underscoring the concerns over injury risks and the need to protect the opportunities and safety of female athletes.
The ACLU, which brought the lawsuit challenging West Virginia’s law, argued that it discriminated against transgender students and violated their constitutional rights. The organization maintained that the law unfairly targeted transgender youth and denied them equal opportunities in school activities and athletic events.
The legal battle over West Virginia’s transgender sports ban has been ongoing since the law was enacted in 2021, with differing rulings issued by lower courts. Judge Joseph R. Goodwin initially blocked the law, only to reverse his decision later, while the Fourth Circuit ultimately ruled that the ban violated Title IX protections.
Given the significance of this case, Morrisey’s appeal to the Supreme Court represents a continued effort to defend the interests of women and girls in sports. The outcome of this legal challenge could have broader implications for similar laws in other states, making it a pivotal issue for advocates of women’s fairness in sports.
