HRC President Reacts to Supreme Court Oral Arguments in West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox, Cases that Challenge Discriminatory Sports Bans for Transgender Youth

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox, two cases arguing that West Virginia and Idaho's bans preventing transgender students from playing on the school sports teams that align with their gender identity violate both Title IX and the United States Constitution's Equal Protection clause. These challenges seek to push back against targeted anti-transgender discrimination to ensure that federally-funded educational institutions are equitable and inclusive for all children. Decisions in these cases are expected by the end of the court's term in June and could have implications beyond federally-funded educational athletic programs.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson released the following statement:

"Our schools should be pillars of fairness and equality, where all kids can try new things, make friends, and feel free to be themselves. But as today's oral arguments made clear, there is nothing fair about excluding kids from school sports teams simply for who they are. There is nothing fair about targeting children and stripping away opportunities for them to learn, grow and bond with their peers simply because of dislike or disapproval of who they are.

"Anti-transgender sports bans do not protect women. Instead they police gender for everyone and put all women and girls at risk. They are violations of students' civil rights, and they're unconstitutional - the rule of law is on our side. We urge the Court to uphold our country's critical legal protections, follow their own precedent set in Bostock v Clayton County, and see these bans for what they are: textbook discrimination."

For more on the history of these cases and the potential impact of the Supreme Court's ruling, read HRC's backgrounder here.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action-working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

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