US4 min(s) read
Published 15:31 02 Jul 2026 GMT
Melania Trump has issued a rare political message addressing the LGBT community.
On Tuesday (June 30), the Supreme Court issued a joint ruling on two cases regarding transgender athletes.
In a 6-3 decision, the court upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prevent trans athletes from joining girls' and women's sports teams.
The ruling overturns earlier decisions that sided with two transgender students, Lindsay Hecox from Idaho and 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson from West Virginia, who challenged the bans.
The court found that the laws do not violate Title IX, the federal law that bans sex discrimination in education.
The decision is expected to have wider implications, with at least 25 other states already enforcing similar restrictions on transgender athletes.
However, it remains unclear how it will affect ongoing legal challenges in states including California and Connecticut.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, wrote in the majority opinion that "states may maintain women's and girls' sports for biological females".
"Put simply, the statute and regulations do not speak to that issue in a way that could properly be interpreted to require schools to allow biological males to participate in women’s and girls’ sports," he continued.
"The question before the Court is: Under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, may schools maintain women's and girls' sports for biological females?
"In other words, may schools determine eligibility for women's and girls' sports based on biological sex? The answer is yes," he added.
The First Lady, who very rarely makes political statements, weighed in on the ruling on social media by quoting a section of her self-titled book.
"As many of you may know, I fully support the LGBTQIA+ community. But we must also ensure that our female athletes are protected and respected," she wrote.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has now legally confirmed this opinion: 'Under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, may schools maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females? ... The answer is yes.'"
Melania penned that it is possible to 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," she concluded.
The decision was met with criticism from transgender rights advocates.
Sasha Buchert, Senior Attorney and Director of the Non-Binary and Transgender Rights Project, Lambda Legal, said in a statement shared with ACLU: "This ruling is deeply harmful for transgender women and girls who only asked for the ability to participate in sports with their peers."
“Countless studies have demonstrated the myriad benefits that come with participation in team sports. Now, one population, transgender youth and collegians, are targeted for specific and baseless discrimination.
"We will not be deterred and will continue to fight back to secure the equal participation that all youth, including transgender youth, deserve," Buchert added.
Joshua Block, Senior Counsel for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project, also slammed the decision, pointing out that the "equality of transgender women and girls takes nothing away from, and in fact promotes, the equality of all women and girls".
"We will continue to advance the fundamental principle that all young people deserve equal opportunity to thrive and succeed," Block said.
President Donald Trump called the Supreme Court's decision a "BIG WIN" on Truth Social.
"The United States Supreme Court just RULED AGAINST MEN PLAYING IN WOMEN’S SPORTS," he continued.
"Wow! That takes that ridiculous situation off the table!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
The conservative-majority Supreme Court has previously upheld several policies affecting transgender people, including allowing the Trump administration to enforce a Pentagon policy banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.
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