18 AGs say transgender boys should play on girls’ sports teams, denying ‘inherent differences between biological males and females’

A coalition of 18 state attorneys general are opposing a West Virginia law restricting youth sports participation by biological sex.

Led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the coalition filed an amicus brief on behalf of a transgender student currently suing the West Virginia Board of Education for allegedly violating the student’s rights.

“When a transgender student is prevented from playing on the sports team consistent with their gender identity, their rights are taken away from them and we will not stand for it,” James claimed in a statement. “Transgender students should be afforded the same opportunities as their peers and deserve to live without fear of discrimination or stigma.”

James is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

The West Virginia law in question went into effect in July 2021 and restricted athletes to playing in sports according to their biological sex, due to the “inherent differences between biological males and biological females.”

But an 11-year-old boy who identifies as transgender, referred to as “BPJ,” sued the state Board of Education, alleging a right to compete on the girl’s track team.

The initial case was ruled in favor of BPJ. However, the case has now been taken to the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Surveys reveal that many Americans believe transgender athletes harm women’s sports, and many states are prohibiting students from joining teams that contradict their biological gender.

Prominent female athletes, such as Riley Gaines and Bethany Hamilton, have also spoken publicly about the damage biologically male competitors do to women’s sports.