West Virginia and Idaho Requesting U.S. Supreme Court to Review Rulings Blocking Transgender Athlete Ban

West Virginia and Idaho petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review rulings that prevented state laws prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in sports. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey reported at a briefing that if the Supreme Court agrees to review the cases, it will determine the fate of women’s sports for years to come. The cases filed on Thursday involve transgender athletes who wished to participate on female-designated teams at the K-12 and college level, respectively. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel already ruled 2-1 last April that the state’s transgender sports ban violated Becky Pepper-Jackson’s rights under Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools.

Jackson, who is 14 years old, has been taking puberty-blocking medication since she was in the third grade and publicly identified as a girl. Additionally, a Boise-area high school athlete who is not transgender is a plaintiff in the case because she fears the law could require her to undergo invasive tests to determine her biological sex when someone questions her gender.

In August 2023, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking the law while the lawsuit moves forward. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador defensively stated that activists working against the law are “pushing a radical social agenda that sidelines women and girls in their own sports.” Labrador emphasized that Idaho is committed to ensuring that women and girls get equal opportunities on and off the field.

According to Morrisey, his office had been working with Idaho’s Attorney General in filing the states’ petitions as the combination of these cases offer a “significant vehicle” for the U. S. Supreme Court to act. Over the past few years, sports participation has become a prime focus in legislative and legal battles about the role of transgender people in public life. Republican-controlled states have mostly passed restrictions on participation, gender-affirming health care for minors, and have restricted the use of bathrooms and locker rooms primarily in schools.

Twenty-four states, including West Virginia and Idaho, have laws on the books that bar transgender women and girls from competing in certain female-designated sports.

The joint statement by the ACLU, the ACLU of West Virginia, Lambda Legal, and Cooley Law Firm emphasized that their client deserves the opportunity to participate in sports teams without discrimination, and they will continue to defend the right of students to play as who they are.

Importance of Safe Water for Kids

Water is one of the most crucial resources we need in our daily lives, and when it comes to kids, it is important to ensure they have access to clean and safe water. Access to clean and safe water is essential for the overall health, development, and growth of children. Here are some critically important facts about water and children that every parent and caregiver should know.

The Importance of Hydration

Water is essential for life and for the body to work correctly. Children’s bodies are composed of water, which is why it is crucial to keep them hydrated.

Children need to drink plenty of water throughout the day, mainly when it is hot outside, and they are spending time outdoors playing. Dehydration can lead to headaches, tiredness, dizziness, and other health concerns. It can also negatively affect the physical and cognitive development of children.

The Importance of Safe Water

Unfortunately, not all water is created equal. Contaminated water can make children sick and lead to various illnesses, such as diarrhea, gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. In severe cases, it can even lead to death.

It is not only important to drink clean and safe water but also to take necessary precautions while swimming in pools, rivers, or other bodies of water. Parents and caregivers need to ensure that children do not ingest water while swimming, always supervise them while swimming, and ensure that they are wearing life jackets and floatation devices where appropriate.

The Importance of Water Quality

Water quality is of utmost significance when it comes to children. While municipal water treatment facilities can treat water, parents and caregivers should always test the water at home before consumption. Children’s immune systems are still developing, and they are vulnerable to water-borne illnesses.

Water can get contaminated due to several reasons and can lead to the presence of harmful chemicals and bacteria, such as lead, pesticides, nitrates, and chlorine byproducts. Parents and caregivers can purchase home water testing kits or send the water to laboratories for testing.

The Importance of Environmentally Friendly Practices

Apart from ensuring that children have access to clean and safe water, parents and caregivers also need to teach them how to conserve water and implement environmentally friendly practices. By teaching children to shut off taps while brushing their teeth, taking short showers, and repairing dripping taps, we can contribute to the conservation of water.

In conclusion, access to clean and safe water is essential for the health, development, and growth of children. Parents and caregivers need to ensure that children drink clean and safe water, be vigilant about water quality, supervise them while swimming, and teach them to conserve water and implement environmentally friendly practices.

Originally Post From https://ktar.com/story/5580264/west-virginia-idaho-asking-supreme-court-to-review-rulings-allowing-transgender-athletes-to-compete/

West Virginia and Idaho Ask Supreme Court to Review Transgender Athlete Rulings