A federal judge blocked a law in West Virginia this week that banned transgender girls from participating in female teams.
The judge ruled on Wednesday that the Mountain State cannot block transgender girls from playing on female sports teams. Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill in law on April 28, which initially banned transgender girls and women from participating in public school sports consistent with their gender identity. The ruling marks the third federal court decision in the past 30 days to block anti-transgender laws from going into effect.
“At this point, I have been provided with scant evidence that this law addresses any problem at all, let alone an important problem,” District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin wrote in his ruling.
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In May, the American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter filed a lawsuit over the ban on behalf of their client, an 11-year-old transgender student-athlete named Becky Pepper-Jackson, who wanted to run cross country. On Wednesday, the ACLU issued a statement, calling the ruling a “big win.”
BREAKING: A federal district judge just blocked the government from enforcing a cruel, unconstitutional law that would have prevented our client, Becky, from participating in school sports this year.
This is a big win for Becky and for West Virginia kids! pic.twitter.com/9Tn8TzBlK8
— ACLU of WV (@ACLU_WV) July 21, 2021
“Our client Becky should have the opportunity to participate in school sports, just like any other middle school girl,” the ACLU wrote.
Goodwin argued in his ruling that “forcing a girl to compete on the boys’ team when there is a girls’ team available would cause her unnecessary distress and stigma,” saying that it would cause confusion for coaches and teammates. His decision means that the state must stop enforcing the ban that went into effect earlier this month while the lawsuit awaits a final ruling.
The West Virginia ruling came hours after a federal judge blocked an anti-trans law in Arkansas that would have banned doctors from providing young patients with gender-affirming care.
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The Washington Examiner contacted the governor’s office but did not immediately receive a response.
