A federal judge in New Hampshire has ruled that two transgender girls, aged 14 and 15, can participate in girls' school sports teams while they challenge a state ban. The families of the teens filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu in July.
The judge issued a preliminary injunction, allowing the girls to try out and play on girls' teams as they are likely to succeed in their lawsuit. The court found that the students faced potential irreparable harm without the injunction.
Before the law, one of the girls had been actively participating in girls' sports at school, with no harm caused to anyone. The judge suggested a trial this fall, but it is likely to occur after December, well into the winter track season.
The state is reviewing the court's decision and remains committed to providing a safe environment for all students. The lawsuit argues that the ban violates constitutional protections and federal laws by denying equal educational opportunities and discriminating against transgender individuals.
The law signed by Governor Sununu prohibits transgender athletes in grades 5 to 12 from playing on teams aligning with their gender identity. It mandates schools to designate teams as girls, boys, or coed, with eligibility based on birth certificates or other evidence.
This ruling comes after a federal appeals court blocked Arizona from enforcing a similar ban on transgender girls in school sports. The issue of transgender rights, especially for young people, has become a contentious political topic in many states.
While most Republican-controlled states have implemented restrictions on transgender rights, legal battles continue to unfold across the country.
