The U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments on a West Virginia law banning the participation of transgender athletes in middle and high school sports teams.
The Court heard back-to-back oral arguments last week over two cases that could determine whether transgender women and girls can play on sports teams aligning with their gender identity. The other lawsuit is from the state of Idaho. Both states have banned transgender women and girls from playing on female teams.
Personally, I think it is just common sense. A person born a male playing against girls has a biological advantage. He should not be allowed to play against females just because he says he “identifies” as a girl.
This is especially true after they have gone through puberty and have male testosterone.
It is a shame that some doctors are allowed to give grade school-aged children puberty blockers.
The questions posed to the Supreme Court were whether Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prevents a state from consistently designating girls’ and boys’ sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth and whether the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment prevents a state from offering separate boys’ and girls’ sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth, according to one report from Yahoo.
The student in each lawsuit alleges that their state’s restriction violates their 14th Amendment guarantee to equal protection under the law. One of them also contends that the restriction violates Title IX, the sweeping federal law banning sex-based discrimination in federally funded colleges and K-12 schools.
The West Virginia case focuses on a student-athlete who was born male but now identifies as a girl. At an early age, this young person was living as a girl at home and told “her” mother and father she did not want to keep going to school dressed as a boy.
“This is a common-sense law that is enforceable in a way that is rational,” said Attorney General J.B. McCuskey, a Republican. “And it’s important because this is a place where size and strength and speed matter.”
The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the West Virginia and Idaho laws and should issue a decision in the near future.
The justices heard almost an hour and a half of arguments about the West Virginia case. As with most appeals cases, this was a back-and-forth, with justices asking questions one after another on finer points of law, and with lawyers defending their positions.
Think about it. Do you want your daughter or granddaughter to have to share a locker room with a biological male? It is embarrassing to these young athletes and very awkward. Having to change clothes and even see the transgender walk around nude is a terrible situation for these young athletes. The same goes for young girls using a bathroom when a male comes in and invades their privacy.
Simply put, female athletes should be protected at any level.
Short stuff
The upcoming Hatfield-McCoy Shootout should be another great weekend of high school basketball for local fans. Both Martin County and Tug Valley will play two games at the event.
Once again, it will be played at the historic Williamson Fieldhouse.
… Most of us have enjoyed the college football playoffs. The NFL postseason has also been entertaining for football fans. You certainly have gotten your belly full of awesome playoff football this year.
… If you are like me, you are tired of winter and cold weather. But spring is around the corner. March will be here before you know it. Hey, spring training for baseball teams starts in February in Florida and Arizona.
Until next time.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)
Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the newspaper’s management, staff, or ownership. We encourage a diversity of perspectives and foster open dialogue on important issues, but these opinions are solely the responsibility of the contributors.