Judge upholds fairness in women's sports by dismissing lawsuit against DeSantis

On Monday, a federal district court judge dismissed a lawsuit against Republican Governor Ron DeSantis over a Florida law banning males from competing in women's sports, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

In 2021, DeSantis signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which went into effect in July 2021. A press release from DeSantis' office stated that the legislation aimed to "[preserve] fair opportunities for female athletes to demonstrate their strength, skills, and abilities in athletic competition."

"The bill specifies that an athletic team or sport that is designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex, based on the student's biological sex listed on the student's official birth certificate at the time of birth," the statement added.

The Human Rights Campaign attempted to challenge the law, claiming that it violated the 14th Amendment and Title IX of the Education Amendments.

On Monday, Trump-appointed United States District Judge Roy K. Altman dismissed the lawsuit, stating that Florida's law "doesn't discriminate against transgender students."

"In addition to allowing transgender athletes of both sexes to play on coed (or mixed) teams, the law explicitly allows transgender boys to try out and play for boys' sports teams," the judge wrote. "If the law had intended to discriminate against transgender student-athletes, in other words, it's done a very poor job of it."

Altman ruled that the Fairness in Women's Sports Act "doesn't violate Title IX by treating transgender girls differently from transgender boys."

"Having carefully reviewed the text of SB 1028, the statements of the various politicians quoted in the Complaint, and the Plaintiff's other factual allegations, we disagree that the statute comes anywhere close to creating the sort of caste-like system the Constitution forbids—a system in which transgender girls are legally demeaned and degraded because of their gender identity," the judge's motion read.

In April, the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a friend-of-the-court brief requesting the court uphold Florida's law protecting women's sports. The brief was filed on behalf of Selina Soule, who stated she was "forced to compete against two biological males in track and field in Connecticut."

The court noted the Fairness in Women's Sports Act's "gender-based classifications are rooted in real differences between the sexes—not stereotypes."

ADF senior counsel Christiana Kiefer stated, "The court was right to uphold Florida's Fairness in Women's Sports Act. States like Florida have an interest in protecting women and girls as men continue to take medals, podium spots, and other opportunities away from women in female sports."

"Biological differences matter. As more women lose opportunities to men with natural physical advantages, lawmakers are acting to preserve equal opportunities and common sense. If men are allowed to compete in women's sports, women will continue to face discrimination that Title IX prohibits," Kiefer added.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!