STATEMENT: Supreme Court’s ruling allowing states to ban trans athletes will harm students, reinforce harmful gender stereotypes

June 30. 2026

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For Immediate Release
Jun 30, 2026

Media Contact
Nazirah Ahmad
[email protected]

Statement by Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates, which fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country, on the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding state bans on transgender students’ participation in school sports

SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 30, 2026 – Today’s Supreme Court decision upholding state bans on transgender students’ participation in school sports is a clear misreading of Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. The decision betrays a core purpose of anti-discrimination laws: to expand educational opportunity for all students, not shut them out based on rigid gender stereotypes.

There is no evidence of student safety concerns in states with inclusive sports policies, and transgender student athletes make up less than 0.002% of U.S. college athletes. Instead of fixating on transgender athletes, politicians should focus on the real issues facing women’s sports: unequal funding, fewer participation opportunities, sexual abuse and harassment, and lack of resources and facilities. 

“The decision betrays a core purpose of anti-discrimination laws: to expand educational opportunity for all students, not shut them out based on rigid gender stereotypes.”

This Supreme Court decision will not only harm transgender students, but cisgender women and girls as well. To comply with state laws, schools and athletic associations must identify and exclude transgender athletes from participating in school sports, and in the process, will inevitably rely on stereotypes – singling out girls with short hair or an athletic build, or those who are simply “too good” at their sport. As set forth in an amici brief signed by Equal Rights Advocates and other organizations, this is already happening across the country. 

“To comply with state laws, schools must first identify trans athletes, and in the process, will inevitably single out girls with short hair, athletic body types, or those who are simply ‘too good’ at their sport.”

The SCOTUS majority decision furthers the Trump administration’s widespread attack on civil rights protections and continued attempt to erase transgender individuals from society, including through distorted interpretation of law. As Justice Jackson aptly points out in her minority opinion, “the majority is wrong to suggest that the term ‘sex’ in Title IX ‘cannot plausibly be interpreted to refer to anything other than biological sex. ….Title IX makes room for individuals to live in the gender they choose; it cares not just about sex assigned at birth but also about individuals’ ability to match (or not) their gender presentation to their gender identity.’ ”

ERA will continue fighting for trans equality and trans rights through the court of law and the court of public opinion. All students are better off in a world free from harmful gender stereotypes. 

To request an interview with Noreen Farrell, contact Blake Case at [email protected] or (601) 832-6079.  

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About Equal Rights Advocates

Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. Since 1974, they have been fighting on the front lines of social justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation that sets the stage for the rest of the nation.