This week, a Miami federal judge upheld a law that bans transgender athletes in public schools and universities, ruling against a student’s claims of discrimination.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Roy Altman ruled that Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act does not violate the 14th Amendment – the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. The judge ruled that “sex-based classifications are substantially related to the state’s important interest in promoting women’s athletics,” according to the Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The judge, who was appointed by former United States President Donald Trump, explained the decision in a 39-page order dated Monday.
“The Plaintiff is right to say that the statute treats transgender girls differently from both cisgender girls and transgender boys,” the judge wrote. “Under the law, after all, biological females (whether cis or trans) can play on both girls’ and boys’ sports teams. Transgender girls, by contrast, considered male by birth, cannot play on girls’ sports teams.”
“But not all gender-based classifications violate the Equal Protection Clause,” he said.
The Washington-based Human Rights Campaign brought the case on the student’s behalf. In a statement to the Florida Sun-Sentinel, the organization said that its litigation team “is actively working with the plaintiffs on potential next steps” following the judge’s decision.
