MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Wednesday in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ, upholding state laws that restrict participation in girls’ school sports to biological females. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall praised the ruling, saying it affirms similar protections already in place in Alabama.
The Court considered legal challenges to laws in Idaho and West Virginia that classify participation on girls’ sports teams based on biological sex rather than gender identity in public schools.
Alabama enacted a similar law in 2023 that applies to public K-12 schools as well as public colleges and universities.
Attorney General Marshall welcomed the decision, stating:
“Common sense won again. Alabama stood strong for our female athletes, and the Supreme Court agreed. This is about fairness. Our daughters worked too hard, sacrificed too much, and dreamed too big to be pushed aside. The science is clear and Alabama will not apologize for protecting the opportunities our girls have earned. Alabama led the way, and today, that leadership paid off.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Marshall co-led a coalition of 27 states last year in filing a legal brief supporting Idaho and West Virginia before the Supreme Court.
The Attorney General’s Office also noted that Marshall previously challenged the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX regulations, which sought to expand protections related to gender identity. Those regulations were opposed by Alabama and several other states, arguing they would affect policies involving sex-segregated spaces such as locker rooms, bathrooms, and athletic competitions.
The Supreme Court’s ruling allows the Idaho and West Virginia laws to remain in effect and is expected to influence similar laws in other states, including Alabama.
