Good News: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Fairness in Women’s Sports

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2026

Little Rock, Ark. – On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws protecting fairness in women’s sports.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement praising the ruling, saying, “This is a good decision that makes sure women and girls are not forced to compete against biological males in school sports. Letting males compete in women’s sports is unfair. It erases 50 years of advancements for women and girls. It hurts their athletic and scholarship opportunities as students, and it hurts their professional opportunities as adults. In some sports, it can even be dangerous. Today’s decision is a victory that preserves fairness in women’s sports.”

Cox pointed out that most Americans do not believe girls should be forced to compete against biological males in school sports. “Public opinion polling from Gallup has shown most Americans agree that athletes should compete according to their biological sex — not their gender identity. Protecting fairness in women’s sports is just common sense. Americans understand that, and our federal courts do too.”

Cox said Arkansans should be proud that their leaders have been at the forefront of the effort to protect fairness in women’s sports. “Arkansas was among the first states in the nation to enact a law clearly protecting women’s sports. Act 461 of 2021 by Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Sonia Barker prevents male student athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school. Family Council was pleased to work with the Arkansas Legislature to support passage of this good law. Act 461 was never challenged in court, but similar laws in West Virginia and Idaho were. Last year, Family Council joined dozens of state policy organizations and more than 200 state legislators — including Rep. Mary Bentley and Rep. Robin Lundstrum from Arkansas — in a legal brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold those laws. Today the Court did exactly that. That is something to celebrate.”

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Biological Male Wins Girls Shot Put Championship in West Virginia

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A biological male recently won first place in the girls shot put at a West Virginia state track and field championship — beating the second-place finisher by more than two feet.

This same athlete — who has taken first place in past years — is at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine whether states can protect fairness in women’s sports. The Court is expected to rule in the case this month.

We have written repeatedly about how women’s athletics is at risk of being erased in America.

Letting men compete in women’s sports is unfair and reverses 50 years of advancements for women.

Female cyclists, swimmers, powerlifters, sprinters, volleyball players, and others have seen their sports radically changed by men who claim to be women.

In some cases, letting biological males compete against women and girls can even be dangerous.

Stories like this one are part of the reason Arkansas passed Act 461 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R — Smackover) in 2021 to protects fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas. The law prevents male student athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school.

Right now the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a federal lawsuit from West Virginia that could affect state laws like Arkansas’ Act 461.

Family Council joined dozens of state policy organizations and more than 200 state legislators in a legal brief in that case last September.

Most Americans believe that athletes should compete according to their biological sex — not their gender identity. We are optimistic the U.S. Supreme Court will agree and uphold fairness in women’s sports.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Basketball Team’s Full Court Press for Religious Liberty Pays Off

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Above: Mid Vermont Christian School basketball players outside of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York City on April 9, 2025 (Photo Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom).

A Christian school in Vermont recently won a major legal victory — and the price tag for violating its constitutional rights was steep.

The Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) believes that human beings are created either male or female. In 2023, the MVCS girls’ basketball team decided to forfeit a game rather than violate its religious convictions by forcing its girls to play against a team with a male player. But the Vermont Principals Association decided to punish the school for forfeiting the game by kicking it out of the sports league. That led to a major court battle — and a victory for MVCS.

Now the Vermont Principals Association has agreed to pay a $566,000 settlement for damages and attorneys’ fees to Mid Vermont Christian School.

Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom represented the school in court. ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman put it plainly: “The government cannot punish religious schools — and the families they serve — by permanently kicking them out of state-sponsored sports simply because the state disagrees with their religious beliefs.”

Stories like this one are part of the reason Arkansas passed Act 461 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R — Smackover) in 2021 to protects fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas.

Letting men compete in women’s sports is unfair and reverses 50 years of advancements for women. Female cyclists, swimmers, powerlifters, sprinters, volleyball players, and others have seen their sports radically changed by men who claim to be women. In some cases it can even be dangerous.

Right now the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a federal case that could affect state laws like Arkansas’ Act 461. Family Council joined dozens of state policy organizations and more than 200 state legislators in a legal brief in that case last September.

Most Americans agree that athletes should compete according to their biological sex — not their gender identity. This settlement between Mid Vermont Christian School and the Vermont Principals Association is a victory for religious freedom, fairness in girls’ sports, and common sense.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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