Arizona Still Can’t Enforce Sports Ban On Two Transgender Girls

Two transgender girls can continue competing in sports in Arizona after a federal appeals panel ruled Monday that a state law banning their athletic participation is likely discriminatory.

Arizona state officials are unlikely to stand up to heightened scrutiny, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit unanimously ruled. They must show that the Save Women’s Sports Act is substantially related to the achievement of ensuring competitive fairness and equal athletic opportunity for female student-athletes. The appeals panel affirmed a preliminary injunction excluding the two athletes from the Act.

“The panel held that the district court did not clearly ...