U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments Reveal Scientific Reality on Gender-Based Sports Competition

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday on the issue of whether laws that prohibit transgender females (biological males) from competing on girls’ and women’s school sports teams violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Observers generally agree that the court will permit states to ban males from participating in female athletics.

The debate has been framed around scientific distinctions between sexes, with experts such as Dr. Nisha Verma, an OB/GYN specialist, being questioned about whether men can get pregnant during a Senate hearing on abortion pill safety.

Dr. Verma avoided directly answering when Sen. Josh Hawley repeatedly asked if men can get pregnant over a five-minute exchange.

The Biden administration finalized Title IX regulations on June 5, 2024, expanding protections to include gender identity. However, at least 22 states challenged the rule change, which was vacated by a federal district court on January 9, 2025.

Judge Danny C. Reeves ruled that the Department of Education “exceeded its statutory authority” and violated constitutional principles.