TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A new court order says boys who have transitioned to girls in Arizona may play on girl's sports teams, for now.
State lawmakers passed S.B. 1165 interscholastic; intramural athletics; biological sex, also known as the "Save Women's Sports" bill in 2022.
It clearly stated:
B. ATHLETIC TEAMS OR SPORTS DESIGNATED FOR "FEMALES", "WOMEN" OR "GIRLS" MAY NOT BE OPEN TO STUDENTS OF THE MALE SEX.
However, lawyers for two transgender girls in Tucson sued. Next, a federal district judge blocked enforcement on this ban.
The Department of Education then appealed the ruling. This is where Monday's ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit comes in.
It upholds the federal judge's ruling which says transgender girls are allowed to play on girl's team.
In response to the court order, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne's office issued the following statement on behalf of Superintendent Horne:
“This court action is a first step towards letting males play in female sports in general. That means this is a long-term fight, and I think it’s an important enough issue that we’ll win it in the U.S. Supreme Court.”
RELATED: Transgender birth certificate case given class-action status in Arizona
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Caleb Fernández is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned production assistance, photography and art direction. Share your story ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez@kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
