{"id":2535338,"date":"2026-01-13T17:39:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T22:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-court-considers-how-defining-sex-would-affect-trans-sports-bans\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T22:42:02","slug":"high-court-considers-how-defining-sex-would-affect-trans-sports-bans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-court-considers-how-defining-sex-would-affect-trans-sports-bans\/","title":{"rendered":"High court considers how defining sex would affect trans sports bans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhigh-court-considers-how-defining-sex-would-affect-trans-sports-bans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2535338&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases-Little v. Hecox (Idaho) and West Virginia v. B.P.J.-that challenge state laws limiting participation in girls&#8217; and women&#8217;s sports to biological females. The cases raise whether the Court should adopt a legal definition of &#8220;sex&#8221; under federal law, especially Title IX, and whether those state bans violate the Equal Protection clause and, in West Virginia&#8217;s case, Title IX.<\/p>\n<p>Justices pressed both sides on how &#8220;sex&#8221; should be defined. West Virginia&#8217;s solicitor general and a Justice Department lawyer pointed to biological sex as the appropriate standard,while the lawyer for the transgender plaintiffs,Joshua Block,urged the Court not to issue a firm definitional ruling and argued that Title IX&#8217;s purpose is preventing denial of opportunities,not creating an &#8220;accurate&#8221; classification. Block also at times equated sex with gender identity in his arguments.<\/p>\n<p>Several conservative-leaning justices (Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, Barrett) appeared skeptical of the transgender athletes&#8217; claims, while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson questioned the states&#8217; positions and the broader consequences of a ruling that would invalidate laws in jurisdictions that allow transgender girls to compete. Justice Gorsuch, author of the bostock decision, raised tough questions and seemed unconvinced by both sides.<\/p>\n<p>A ruling could have far-reaching effects on transgender policy across the country; the Court is expected to issue opinions by the end of June.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court considers how defining sex would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-attorney-for-minnesota-who-led-fraud-charges-resigns\/\" title=\"US attorney for Minnesota who led fraud charges resigns\">affect transgender sports bans<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2472124\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> is weighing whether it needs to rule on a legal definition of sex under federal law as it evaluates whether two state laws restricting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/womens-sports\/\">women&rsquo;s sports<\/a> to biological females are constitutional. Such a ruling could have a profound effect on laws governing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/transgender\/\">transgender<\/a> issues across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a pair of cases, <em>Little v. Hecox<\/em> and <em>West Virginia v. B.P.J.<\/em>, which focus on state laws that restrict women&rsquo;s sports to biological females. The <em>Hecox<\/em> case deals with whether an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/idaho\/\">Idaho<\/a> law violates the equal protection clause and was brought by a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >college-aged biologically male athlete<\/a>. The <em>B.P.J.<\/em> case, meanwhile, is challenging a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/west-virginia\/\">West Virginia<\/a> law under both the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX, and was brought by a biologically male middle school student who is now in high school.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4415398\/riley-gaines-interview-alleged-victim-pivotal-supreme-court-case\/\">Riley Gaines to interview alleged victim in West Virginia v. B.P.J.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4414623\/supreme-court-louisiana-fight-make-oil-companies-pay-coastal-damages\/\">Supreme Court weighs Louisiana residents&#8217; fight to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gas-prices-break-record-but-diesel-prices-will-greatly-affect-all-americans-and-the-world\/\" title=\"Gas Prices Break Record, but Diesel Prices Will Greatly Affect All Americans \u2013 And the World\">make oil companies pay<\/a> for coastal damages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4414082\/bessent-treasury-tariff-refunds-supreme-court\/\">Bessent says Treasury can&nbsp;cover tariff refunds if Supreme Court rules against Trump&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The issue of whether the justices should define sex, especially under <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/title-ix\/\">Title IX<\/a>, emerged as one of the key questions during back-to-back oral arguments. Justices asked both sides throughout the arguments how sex should be legally defined. Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\">Clarence Thomas<\/a>, for example, asked West Virginia Solicitor General Michael Williams how the state would define sex under Title IX, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nancy-pelosi-mocked-after-bragging-she-told-ukraine-president-zelensky-that-billie-jean-king-sends-her-regards\/\" title=\"Nancy Pelosi Mocked After Bragging She Told Ukraine President Zelensky that Billie Jean King Sends Her Regards\">prohibits sex-based discrimination<\/a> at schools, and Williams said he would define it based on biological sex. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> lawyer Hashim Mooppan also referred to biology as the basis of legal standards regarding sex.<\/p>\n<p>As he argued for the West Virginia law to be struck down under Title IX, Joshua Block, lawyer for the student identified in court papers as B.P.J., faced a series of questions from the justices about his side&rsquo;s definition of sex. Chief Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-roberts\/\">John Roberts<\/a> asked Block if he was arguing that the definition of girls should include &ldquo;transgender girls,&rdquo; biological males who identify as girls. Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brett-kavanaugh\/\">Brett Kavanaugh<\/a> asked if the definition of sex in Title IX allows for different states to have different laws about the inclusion of biological males who identify as women in women&rsquo;s sports.<\/p>\n<p>Block told the justices it was not necessary for the high court to rule on the definition of sex and ultimately asked them not to give a firm definition for sex under Title IX.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think the purpose of Title IX is to have an accurate definition of sex, I think the purpose is to make sure sex isn&rsquo;t being used to deny opportunities,&rdquo; Block said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t look to whether or not it&rsquo;s accurate to classify B.P.J. as male or female, I think the question is, is [B.P.J.] being denied an opportunity because of that classification,&rdquo; Block added.<\/p>\n<p>Both Roberts and Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/samuel-alito\/\">Samuel Alito<\/a> questioned how the justices could find that a state law discriminates on the basis of sex if they don&rsquo;t have an actual definition of sex.<\/p>\n<p>While Block continued to argue the high court should not define sex, he also argued that sex and gender identity are the same thing.<\/p>\n<p>Roberts, Thomas, and Alito, along with Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, appeared more skeptical of the arguments made by the lawyers for the transgender athletes in both cases. Those same five justices made up most of the majority in the <em>United States v. Skrmetti<\/em> case from June 2025, which allowed a state ban on transgender procedures for minors to remain in place.<\/p>\n<p>Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/neil-gorsuch\/\">Neil Gorsuch<\/a>, who wrote the 2020 <em>Bostock v. Clayton County<\/em> decision, which ruled that firing someone based on gender identity violates <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/title-vii\/\">Title VII<\/a>, appeared skeptical of both sides&rsquo; arguments in both cases, offering sharp questions throughout the hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elena-kagan\/\">Elena Kagan<\/a> appeared more skeptical of both Idaho and West Virginia&rsquo;s arguments in support of their transgender sports bans. Kagan questioned Block on how the high court can issue a ruling that would not wipe out the laws of the 23 states that currently permit biological males to compete in women&rsquo;s sports.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4408609\/pair-supreme-court-cases-put-title-ix-future-in-balance\/\">A PAIR OF SUPREME COURT CASES PUT THE FUTURE OF TITLE IX IN THE BALANCE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court is expected to release opinions in both cases by the end of June. The two cases are some of the most highly anticipated decisions still to come from the high court this term.<\/p>\n<p>The pair of cases regarding women&rsquo;s sports laws is among several other high-profile cases the justices have heard or will hear this term. Other notable cases include challenges to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> sweeping tariffs, birthright citizenship, late-arriving mail ballots, and gun laws.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Court may define sex, affecting transgender sports bans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2535339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26012645595403_937e80-e1768333139196.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[70847,32275,70846,33412],"class_list":["post-2535338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-sex-definition","tag-supreme-court","tag-trans-sports-bans","tag-transgender-athletes"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26012645595403_937e80-e1768333139196.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2535338"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2535342,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535338\/revisions\/2535342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2535339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2535338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2535338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2535338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}