Melania Trump calls for US to support both transgender athletes ban, LGBTQ+ rights

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First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday supported the ban on transgender athletes playing sports in categories different from their sex assigned at birth, but also said she supports LGBTQ rights, comments that came after a Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes.

“America, we can support the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and also protect opportunities for female athletes. Respect everyone and keep girls’ sports fair. Both ideals are essential,” the first lady said in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.

The Supreme Court ruled states can ban transgender girls from competing on girls and women’s school sports teams, keeping bans in Idaho and West Virginia on Tuesday via a 6-3 decision.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, shot down arguments that transgender athlete restrictions unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of sex or gender identity.

“In other words, may schools determine eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex? The answer is yes,” Kavanaugh wrote.

“Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females. They may determine eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex. The Constitution and Title IX do not require an overhaul of women’s and girls’ sports throughout America,” he added.

In recent years, the American right has increasingly attacked the transgender community and implemented restrictions on its members’s access to gender-affirming care and ability to play in categories of sports aligned with their gender identity.

“The Supreme Court ruled that states can ban transgender girls from school sports. This is a devastating ruling for trans students across the country who simply want the freedom to play with their friends,” the ACLU, a left-leaning civil rights group, posted on the social platform Bluesky on Tuesday.

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Brett Kavanaugh

Melania Trump

Supreme Court

transgender athletes

Transgender rights

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