Supreme Court to hear West Virginia trans girl's challenge to sports ban

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a challenge by Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old transgender girl who is contesting a West Virginia law that bars transgender girls from joining girls’ school sports teams. Ms. Pepper-Jackson is the only known athlete in West Virginia who would be subject to the law.

Ms. Pepper-Jackson, who transitioned in third grade, has legally changed her name and takes puberty-blocking medication, and her filings say she has not gone through typical male puberty. Now an accomplished shot-putter and discus thrower, she qualified for the West Virginia high school state track and field championships last May.

She sued the state at age 11; lower courts have alternately blocked and allowed enforcement of the law, and in April a divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said the law could not be enforced against her, finding it discriminated in violation of Title IX.

Key Topics

Politics, Becky Pepper-jackson, West Virginia Law, Supreme Court, Title Ix, Lindsay Hecox