On Monday, a federal judge in Idaho temporarily blocked the state from implementing the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, a law banning transgender females from participating in women’s sports. The injunction means that transgender athletes looking to participate in sports that match their gender identity will be able to compete at both secondary and collegiate levels this fall. 
 
Backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Boise State student Lindsay Hecox, a transgender woman, sued the state over the law because it prevents biological males identifying as females from trying out for or competing on the university’s women's cross-country team. The law will now be put on hold while the judge reaches a final decision on whether the law violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment, as well as the unlawful searches and seizures clause of the Fourth Amendment. 
 
Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Idaho District, David C. Nye, stated in his ruling, “In making this determination, it is not just the constitutional rights of transgender girls and women athletes at issue but, as explained above, the constitutional rights of every girl and woman athlete in Idaho. Because the Court finds Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in establishing the Act is unconstitutional as currently written, it must issue a preliminary injunction at this time pending trial on the merits.”
 
Judge Nye also granted a motion by two Idaho State University female athletes to intervene in defense of the law. In a statement, Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb, who is representing the athletes noted, “Allowing males to compete in girls’ sports diminishes women’s athletic opportunities and destroys fair competition. While it’s true that athletics is about more than winning, giving girls and women extra lessons in losing isn’t right. 
 
The Trump administration has filed a brief in the case supporting the law, which went into effect on July 1st.

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