Press Release

SCOTUS Hears Cases on Trans Inclusion in Sports

January 13, 2026

OUR STATEMENT

Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox cases in which transgender students are challenging laws that categorically ban transgender women and girls from athletic programs based on their gender identity.

Dr. Jamila Perritt, ob/gyn and abortion provider in Washington, DC, and President and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, responds:

“Today, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in two cases, West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, in which transgender youth are once again forced to challenge laws that mischaracterize, isolate, and dehumanize them, as well as the entire LGBTQIA2S+ community. The reality is simple: laws that ban transgender women and girls from sports participation are inherently violent and oppressive. Moreover, laws like this are part of a larger strategy to suppress political freedoms and the enforcement of compliance by targeting minoritized communities. History has repeatedly shown us that political violence often targets the most vulnerable members of our communities, like our queer and trans youth, then uses those same community members as scapegoats in the justification of said violence. But make no mistake, laws like this do not just impact queer and trans youth. Laws that disenfranchise queer and trans people set a precedent for the erosion of rights universally, showing that when any group is targeted, no one’s freedoms are truly safe. Our solidarity is not optional; it is a requirement.

“As a medical professional dedicated to providing inclusive, supportive, accessible care to all my patients regardless of their age or gender expression, I know that living a full, authentic life expands far beyond the four walls of our hospitals or clinics. Gender-affirming health care is just one facet of a high-quality life, and trans youth deserve to experience the same freedoms, joys, and opportunities as their cisgender counterparts. Period. As a physician, I know that participation in recreational sports is essential, as it allows youth to make new friends, exercise, and commit to something important as part of a team. Since 2020, over half of the states in the nation have implemented some level of a transgender sports ban, requiring all participants to undergo invasive sex testing. Let’s be very clear: these sports bans are not about safety, “fairness,” or morality. These bans are about criminalization, restricting bodily autonomy, and invading the privacy of all youth, but specifically queer and trans youth. Even when a transgender sports ban is introduced into legislation, it warps social perceptions, subjecting queer and trans people to social harm and further isolation. This cannot continue.

“I hope that the Supreme Court does not uphold this harmful cycle of transgender violence and instead prioritizes the humanity and needs of queer and trans youth. Every queer and trans youth deserves a full life, free of ostracization and isolation. The implementation of any law to stifle this is simply inhumane.

“To my colleagues in the reproductive justice movement, I want to remind you all that we are obligated to stay abreast of the intricate ways in which the transgender community is consistently ostracized. Now is not the time to look away; it is the time to get well-informed and organized. We are our only hope.”