Appeals Court Blocks State Law Limiting Transgender Student Athletes

The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, for now, has ruled in favor of a transgender student in Harrison County who wanted to run on her middle school’s track team.

The student, represented by the ACLU of West Virginia and Lambda Legal, a national LGBTQ rights law firm, challenged a law enacted by the state legislature in 2021.

The law barred transgender students from participating in school sports in a manner consistent with their gender identity.

Last month, a U.S. District Court in Charleston upheld the law, House Bill 3293.

The law is now on hold while the Fourth Circuit considers the appeal. Two members of a three judge panel reinstated the preliminary injunction, and one dissented.

According to ACLU-WV, the student will be able to try out for her track team next week.