After Supreme Court ruling, CT Republicans push to ban transgender players from girls' sports
The proposal failed before and is unlikely to succeed now, but Connecticut's transgender sports policy faces a legal challenge.
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Republicans in the Connecticut House are renewing their push to ban transgender players from girls’ sports, one week after a landmark Supreme Court gave states the right to do so.
The proposal has little chance of passing, but GOP lawmakers may have more luck in the courts.
RENEWED PUSH
Connecticut is one of a handful of states where students can compete under their chosen gender.
“Gender identity or expression” is a protected class under a 2011 anti-discrimination law.
House Republicans announced a new effort to change the law on Tuesday.
“It’s time to put girls first,” said state Rep. Nicole Klarides Ditria (R-Seymour), who works as an athletic trainer. “In writing, in law, with no exceptions.”
GOP lawmakers have tried to pass a transgender sports ban before – and failed. But that was before the Supreme Court upheld other states’ bans last week.
"We need to actually take a stance,” said state Rep. Tracy Marra (R-Darien). “Our schools need to insist that it is females playing in women’s sports.”
Polls show a growing number of Americans think athletes should compete against their birth sex.
In 2025, Pew Research Center found support at 66%, while a New York Times/Ipsos poll found 80% support – including two-thirds of Democrats.
WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS
Beyond public opinion, what does the science say?
Studies into the issue are limited – and have found mixed results. While trans players are generally bigger, research shows that hormone therapy reduces their muscle capacity, speed and endurance.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed 51 studies, comparing more than 6,000 transgender and cisgender women. It found “no significant differences in physical fitness metrics (i.e., upper-body strength, lower-body strength and VO peak) were observed after 1-3 years of therapy.”
But the research is still limited – and difficult to conduct because of the small number of transgender athletes.
“Although the current data do not justify blanket bans, critical gaps in literature were found, notably the underrepresentation of transgender athletes who may retain more ‘muscle memory,’” study authors wrote.
A 2020 study from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which examined U.S. Air Force members who underwent hormone therapy, found similar results. Physical performance was roughly equal – but only after two years of therapy.
Chris Mosier is a transgender triathlete. He said there is a lot of misinformation out there.
“That people assigned male at birth are bigger, faster, stronger, and better athletes. And we know that that’s not true,” Mosier said.
COURT CHALLENGE
The Republican effort is unlikely to succeed, but a court challenge may. Four former athletes are asking a judge to overturn Connecticut’s transgender athletics policy, arguing that it violates women’s Title IX protections.
“Every biological male who wins a race takes the gold medal away from a female athlete,” said Christy Mitchell, whose daughter Chelsea is one of the plaintiffs.
The U.S. Justice Department is also suing Maine, Minnesota and California – all of which have similar laws. The Trump administration has launched investigations into dozens of other states.
Attorney General William Tong vowed to fight any lawsuits.
“Transgender girls are girls in Connecticut. Transgender boys are boys,” he said. “That’s the end of that discussion.”
