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ADF, West Virginia look to Supreme Court to protect women's sports

Lainey Armistead sitting with soccer ball

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Rachel Rouleau regarding an announcement Wednesday from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey that his office and Lainey Armistead, a former West Virginia collegiate athlete represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear B.P.J. v West Virginia State Board of Education, a case in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled earlier this month, undermining West Virginia’s ability to protect fairness in women’s sports:

“Women and girls deserve to compete on a level playing field, but activists—along with the Biden administration—are seeking to erase differences between men and women by forcing women’s sports leagues to allow men to compete. This contradicts both biological reality and common sense. Title IX was designed to provide women with fair competition, and West Virginia’s women’s sports law does the same. Across the country, women and girls are unjustly losing medals, podium spots, public recognition, and the opportunity to compete when males take their places. It is common sense that men competing against women creates huge disadvantages and safety concerns, but the 4th Circuit failed to protect what is just for women and girls. We look forward to joining West Virginia in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect fairness and safety for female athletes.”

The following quote may be attributed to Lainey Armistead, the former West Virginia collegiate athlete who intervened in the case to protect her state’s women’s sports law:

“I believe that protecting fairness in women’s sports is a women’s rights issue. This isn’t just about fair play for me: It’s about protecting fairness and safety for female athletes across West Virginia and across the country. It’s about ensuring that future generations of female athletes are not discriminated against but have access to the same equal athletic opportunities that shaped my life. Being an athlete in college made me even more passionate about the sport that I play. I want fairness, equality, and safety in sports. I hope the Supreme Court will stand up for women and young girls who just want a level playing field.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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Rachel Csutoros
Rachel Rouleau
Legal Counsel
Rachel Rouleau serves as legal counsel for the Center for Conscience Initiatives with Alliance Defending Freedom.