Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has filed a 24-state amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court had ruled that Arizona's 2022 law, which restricts girls' sports teams to biological females, likely violates the Equal Protection Clause by not allowing biological males who identify as women to compete on these teams.
Marshall emphasized the importance of preserving opportunities for girls and women in sports, stating, "Our coalition is determined to preserve the 50 years of work that expanded opportunities and leveled the playing field for girls and women in sports." He expressed concern over what he perceives as a disregard for scientific evidence showing competitive advantages held by males over female athletes.
In Alabama, a similar bill was passed in 2023, classifying sports teams based on biological sex rather than gender identity at public schools and universities. This aligns with Marshall's ongoing efforts against changes proposed by the Biden-Harris administration to Title IX regulations, which would have allowed biological males access to female-only spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms.
The brief was led by Marshall alongside Arkansas' attorney general and joined by attorneys general from Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.