(WKYT) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to uphold state laws that ban transgender girls and women from competing on female school athletic teams.
Kentucky already has a similar law in place, passed in 2022.
Kentucky’s existing law
David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation, said he was watching closely Tuesday morning as the decision came down. The justices ruled 6-3.
“I was shouting for joy — not audibly, but within myself,” Walls said.
Walls worked on Kentucky legislation known as the Save Women’s Sports Act in 2022. The General Assembly passed the ban, barring transgender athletes from competing on school teams.
Walls traveled to a rally in Washington, D.C., in January, joined by Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been outspoken on the issue.
“Female sports should be for females,” Walls said. “Men don’t belong in women’s sports and it’s wrong and unjust for states to allow men to come in and take away these opportunities that rightfully belong to our female athletes.”
Opposition to the ruling
Not everyone shares that view.
Jason Schubert, board chair for Front Runners Lexington — an LGBTQ run-walk group that meets twice a week, with as many as 40 runners showing up some days — said his organization is disappointed.
“We are disappointed in the decision, but we are going to fight for equality,” Schubert said.
“From our perspective, sports are for everyone,” Schubert said. “Everyone should participate in sport at all ages, and that is what we are here as a group to do — is to make sure folks have an opportunity to participate in sports.”
Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group, said the ruling goes too far.
“A blanket ban that treats a kindergartner the same as a college athlete, or treats e-sports the same as swimming, or treats a recreational league the same as a high-stakes competition, is not one that promotes fairness,” Hartman said.
Reaction from supporters
Walls called the ruling a victory.
“It’s a victory for common sense and certainly a victory for our female athletes,” Walls said.