A 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals panel later upheld an injunction blocking the state law in 2023, before the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case despite Hecox asking them to drop it after insisting they were withdrawing and refraining from playing women’s sports at BSU or in Idaho.
The West Virginia v. B.P.J. lawsuit, meanwhile, was brought against the state by trans athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson, who was initially granted a preliminary injunction allowing them to participate on the school’s sports teams. After the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that law violated Title IX and the equal protection clause, the state’s appeal is also heading to Supreme Court.
A protester holds a sign outside the Supreme Court during arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams
Trans athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson (C) arrives outside the Supreme Court after it heard arguments in two cases that challenge state bans on transgender athletes
President Trump signed an executive order banning trans athletes from women’s sports called ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ back in February 2025.
According to the Supreme Court, 30 states have restrictions on transgender athletes participating against girls and women. However, several Democratic-led states chose to ignore Trump’s executive order last year.
