Becky Pepper-Jackson Sues for Right to Compete in Girls’ Sports, Claiming Discrimination Under Title IX
An 11-year-old named Becky Pepper-Jackson has filed a lawsuit against West Virginia after being barred from joining her school’s girls’ cross-country team under H.B. 3293, a recently enacted anti-transgender law. Becky, who testified on May 24, expressed her disappointment and frustration, stating, “It hurts to know that I will not be able to have a chance to run on the girls’ team like my friends can because I am a transgender girl.”
Signed into law by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice in April, H.B. 3293 prohibits transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, sparking opposition from LGBT+ advocates and colleges. Bridgeport Middle School informed Becky that joining the girls’ team would be “confusing” for coaches. Becky, who has been taking puberty-blocking medication and identifies as a girl, argued that being allowed to compete with her peers is essential to her.
With support from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Becky and her family claim that the ban violates Title IX and the U.S. Constitution. The ACLU further argues that West Virginia’s law is rooted in harmful stereotypes and unfounded fears about transgender girls. Similar bills have passed in other states, including Tennessee and Florida, as part of a broader wave of 75 anti-transgender laws introduced in 2021 alone.