The Utah state legislature passed the law earlier this year, arguing that it would help protect athletes and ensure women are not excluded from their sport.
But Judge Keith Kelly of the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake City ruled that transgender girls don’t necessarily have an automatic advantage over other girls, since puberty-blocking treatments can prevent them from developing the physical advantages for the sport that boys can have.
With the ban blocked for now, Utah law stipulates that the eligibility of transgender girls to participate in girls’ sports will be decided on a case-by-case basis by a state-appointed commission.
“The negative impact of the ban on these girls has been profound, and they’re all breathing much better now that she’s been blocked,” said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which represents the plaintiffs. “We are very grateful for the court’s decision and look forward to putting an end to this law once and for all.”
A spokesman for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes declined to comment on the ruling.
After a string of athletic victories by transgender female athletes, including a college swimmer, some conservatives and women’s sport advocates have called for more restrictive legislation. Utah’s ban was passed over the veto of Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, in March, who argued that it applied to very few students.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2019 that only 1.8% of high school students in the country are transgender, and the Human Rights Campaign said that, according to surveys, only about 12% play games. girls sports teams.