A federal judge blocked West Virginia's ban on trans student athletes

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that West Virginia can't block transgender girls from playing on female sports teams — the third US federal court in the past month to block an anti-trans law from taking effect.

The American Civil Liberties Union tweeted about the win on behalf of its client, 11-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson, whose desire to join her middle school's cross-country team in the upcoming school year would have been impossible under a bill passed by the West Virginia Legislature earlier this year.

"Our client Becky should have the opportunity to participate in school sports, just like any other middle school girl," the tweet said. 

Judge Joseph R. Goodwin in his ruling said he'd been provided with "scant evidence" that the anti-trans law "addresses any problem at all, let alone an important problem."

The decision came hours after a federal judge blocked a different anti-trans law in Arkansas that would have barred doctors from providing young patients with gender-affirming care.

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