Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined forces with attorneys general from 23 other states to petition the U.S. Supreme Court regarding an Arizona law focused on restricting girls' sports teams to biological females. This collective action comes in response to a federal appeals court ruling that deemed the law likely violates the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.

Wilson articulated the rationale behind this move, stating, “Sports teams are divided by sex to begin with to give girls a level playing field so they’re not competing against boys.” He further noted, “Arizona’s law restricting girls’ sports teams to biological females is just common sense, and it protects girls from competing against bigger, stronger males who identify as females.”

The group of attorneys general submitted a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to consider their perspective. They argue that biology should be the determining factor for team composition rather than gender identity, asserting, “Basing the distinction on biology rather than gender identity makes sense because it is the differences in biology—not gender identity—that call for separate teams in the first place: Whatever their gender identity, biological males are, on average, stronger and faster than biological females.”

The attorneys general seek a reversal of the lower court's decision and aim for a Supreme Court ruling that affirms states' rights to maintain women's sports integrity and ensure fair competition. The coalition includes representatives from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.

A detailed version of their brief can be accessed through official channels.