The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld laws in 27 states that prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports. However, 23 states do not have such laws, with 19 allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports. Four states impose restrictions through state education agencies or athletic association rules instead of formal legislation. Fox News Digital contacted the governors' offices in the 23 states for their positions following the ruling.
California, which has laws protecting transgender students' rights to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, stated that the Supreme Court ruling will not change its current policies. Governor Gavin Newsom's office emphasized the state's commitment to LGBTQ rights.
In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker criticized the ruling, stating it undermines equality. Hawaii's Department of Education confirmed it will continue to allow transgender participation in accordance with state laws.
Nevada's Governor Joe Lombardo announced plans to push for new legislation to protect girls' sports in light of the ruling, asserting that it clarifies states' authority on the matter.
Minnesota's policy allows case-by-case evaluations for transgender athletes, while Maine's human rights act mandates similar protections. Colorado currently allows participation based on gender identity, with a potential ballot measure in 2026 that could change this.
Several other states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, have policies that support transgender athletes competing in accordance with their gender identity.
Some states, like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, have made changes to their policies to align with federal directives, while Alaska and Virginia have implemented restrictions through their athletic associations or state education policies.
The article notes that many governors did not respond to requests for comment regarding their states' policies on transgender athletes following the Supreme Court ruling.