By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that the US Supreme Court handed down, on 30 June 2026, in a 6-3 ruling, reflecting the conservative majority, that States can legally ban transgender women from competing in female school and college sports.
The highest court considered cases from students in two States, who had challenged bans on such participation.
The States concerned, Idaho and West Virginia, enacted laws that required public school and college sports teams to compete in accordance with their sex recorded at birth.
One of the two challenges claimed that the ban violates equal rights protections which are enshrined in the US Constitution, and the other that it is contrary to civil rights laws.
25 other States have also enacted bans since Idaho did so in 2020.
LGBTQ activists have criticised the ruling stating that it has claimed that it ensures fairness, but it has done the opposite!
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