The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 30 (local time) that it is valid to prohibit transgender individuals from participating in female sports teams at schools.

The Supreme Court overturned lower court rulings that had favored transgender athletes in the cases of "Little v. Hickox" and "West Virginia v. B.P.J.," which challenged laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender students from competing in female sports categories.

While this ruling directly applies only to the two states involved in the lawsuits, it is expected to impact 27 other Republican-leaning states that have enacted similar legislation.

President Donald Trump plans to implement a nationwide ban on transgender participation in female sports by including it in the "Voter ID Act."

This bill has passed the House of Representatives but remains stalled in the Senate.

U.S. media outlets had anticipated that the conservative-majority Supreme Court would rule against the plaintiffs, citing concerns that the participation of transgender individuals in female school sports teams and competitions undermines "women's safety" and "fairness."

CNN reported, "This ruling is a significant defeat for the LGBTQ+ movement," adding, "It comes one year after the justices allowed states to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy."

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