Supreme Court hears challenges by two transgender athletes

The Supreme Court on Tuesday considered two lawsuits filed by transgender athletes from West Virginia and Idaho challenging state laws that would bar transgender females from participating on sports teams for women and girls, the athletes contend. Becky Pepper-Jackson, a high school sophomore in West Virginia, sued her state in 2021 to join her middle school girls’ cross-country team.

During years of litigation she has become an accomplished shot-putter and discus thrower on her high school track and field team. She transitioned in third grade, legally changed her name and has a birth certificate that recognizes her as female. Pepper-Jackson says she takes puberty-blocking medication and has not gone through typical male puberty, which her lawyers say means she does not have a competitive edge over athletes assigned female at birth.

Lindsay Hecox, a college senior who attends Boise State University, sued in 2020 to try out for the women’s track and cross-country teams and did not make the teams, instead participating in women’s club running and soccer. Hecox, who receives testosterone suppression and estrogen treatment, moved to withdraw her case in September and said she would refrain from playing school-sponsored women’s sports, citing negative public scrutiny that would distract from her academics and plans to graduate in May.

Key Topics

Politics, Becky Pepper-jackson, Lindsay Hecox, Supreme Court, Boise State University, West Virginia