West Virginia Girls Allowed to Protest Transgender Athletes Following Court Reversal

A judge in West Virginia has overturned a school district’s ban on five girls who protested against having to compete against a transgender player in high school track and field events. The girls forfeited their events in protest last month, which led to the ban by the Harrison County Board of Education. However, Republican West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey supported the girls by filing a lawsuit against the ban and signing a brief in their defense. The judge ruled in favor of the girls, allowing them to continue competing while their lawsuit is ongoing. The judge emphasized the importance of freedom of speech in the case, distinguishing it as a free speech issue rather than a gender issue. The school district denied any retaliation against the girls and stated that they were allowed to express their views freely. AG Morrisey praised the judge’s decision and encouraged the girls to continue standing up for their beliefs.