Last week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold state bans on biological men participating in female-only athletic competitions: “Because of the valuable lessons that sports impart, states advance an important governmental objective when they can ensure that girls and women can compete. These laws serve, and are substantially related to, that objective: given the inherent athletic advantages that males possess, creating female-only teams ensures that girls and women can safely and fairly compete.”
The USCCB joined multiple legislatures, advocacy groups, scientists, female athletes, and the U.S. Department of Justice in supporting the protection of women’s sports ahead of the upcoming West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox cases.
“These cases ask whether the Equal Protection Clause or Title IX forbids the states to create female-only athletic competitions. Neither does, and any other answer could prove catastrophic to Catholic institutions,” the bishops wrote. Currently, Catholic schools participate in several federal programs. If Title IX were to be reinterpreted, they would be forced to decline such funding, thus harming students nationwide.
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