West Virginia Girls Prohibited from Competing After Boycott of Transgender Athlete

Five middle school girls in West Virginia were barred from participating in a track meet after refusing to compete against a transgender athlete. The students' protest stemmed from a federal court ruling that blocked enforcement of a state law prohibiting transgender girls from competing against biological girls in sports.

Last week, five middle school girls from Lincoln Middle School in Shinnston, West Virginia, were barred from competing in a track and field event after they protested the inclusion of a transgender athlete in the meet. The state law prohibited transgender girls from competing against biological girls in sports, but the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the law violated Title IX, siding with the American Civil Liberties Union and other LGBTQ+ rights groups.

The students refused to participate in the event due to the transgender athlete's inclusion, and a biological male finished in first place in the shot put and second in the discus event. Video footage showed the girls stepping into the shot put circle but stepping out without a throw, which resulted in a foul and forfeit.

In response, the students were prohibited from competing in their next event, which took place on Saturday. They returned to competition on Monday.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a lawsuit against the Harrison County Board of Education on behalf of the four of the five athletes and their parents. Morrisey said in a statement, "I want to say to these students and their parents: I have your backs. You saw unfairness, and you expressed your disappointment and sacrificed your personal performances in a sport that you love; exercised your constitutionally protected freedom of speech and expression."

A Harrison County Circuit Court judge heard the case involving the students on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders signed an executive order in response to President Biden's new Title IX regulations that added protections for transgender athletes.

Several states, including West Virginia, sued the Department of Education with respect to the overhaul of Title IX this week.

The case has sparked a national debate about the role of transgender athletes in sports. Some argue that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in sports based on their gender identity, while others believe that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage over biological athletes.

The debate is likely to continue as more states consider legislation related to transgender athletes and the issue makes its way through the courts.