EXCLUSIVE: West Virginia Girls 'Step-Out' Of Track & Field Meet To Protest Transgender Competitor
On Tuesday, a United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a West Virginia law that bars biological boys from competing on girls' sports teams cannot be enforced with regard to a 13-year-old who competes on the girls' track and field team at the athlete's middle school.
"The defendants cannot expect that [this athlete] will countermand her social transition, her medical treatment, and all the work she has done with her schools, teachers, and coaches for nearly half her life by introducing herself to teammates, coaches, and even opponents as a boy," Judge Toby Heytens wrote in his decision, according to the Associated Press.
It's important to note that this ruling does not impact the West Virginia law – it only applies to the individual in this particular case, since the individual began transitioning in third grade, prior to hitting puberty. However, the ruling does potentially pave the way for other, similar cases.
On Thursday, several girls "stepped out" during a meet to protest the inclusion of the transgender girl at the center of this case.
Several members of a girls' middle school track and field team in West Virginia protested a meet because of the inclusion of a transgender opponent.
(Getty Images)
The athlete in the case competes for the Bridgeport Middle School girls' track & field team in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Bridgeport participated in the 2024 Harrison County Middle School Championships on Thursday afternoon at Liberty High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Seven schools comprised the meet: Bridgeport, Heritage Christian, Notre Dame, South Harrison, Lincoln, Mountaineer (Clarksburg) and Washington Irving.
Several members of one of the girls' shot put teams "stepped in" then "stepped out" to protest the inclusion of a transgender athlete in the meet. The transgender athlete competes in both shot put and discus throwing.
When each of the Lincoln girls had her name called to compete, she stepped into the ring but instead of throwing the shot, she stepped down and refused to participate. They did the same for the discus event.
WATCH:
West Virginia middle school girls refuse to compete against transgender opponent
According to one of the girls who stepped out, the transgender athlete won the shot put event during the Championships.
Riley Gaines, host of the Gaines for Girls podcast on OutKick, shared her thoughts on the girls refusing to compete against a transgender opponent.
"It's a sad day when the middle school girls have to be the adults in the room. Conceding your event is so much easier said than done, but these girls have the tenacity and ability to stand their ground," Gaines said.
"I couldn't be more proud of their bravery and willingness to show their raw emotion. Girls and women have had enough."