Higher Ed Dive Quotes Sam Schwartz-Fenwick on Supreme Court Ruling Affecting Transgender Athletes

Higher Ed Dive quoted Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, co-chair of Seyfarth’s Cultural Flashpoints task force, in its article, “What does the Supreme Court’s transgender athlete ruling mean for higher ed?” The article, published on July 13, 2026, examines the implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., which upheld state laws restricting transgender women and girls from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

Schwartz-Fenwick discussed the impact of the decision on transgender individuals and the higher education institutions navigating an evolving legal landscape, noting:

“It is going to have a very noticeable impact on the lives of transgender individuals who are excluded from participation in states that have these bans.”

He highlighted the increased legal risks facing schools that choose to maintain inclusive athletic policies following the ruling:

“They’ll have to do so knowing that the litigation risk is much higher now than it was before.”

The full article is available here.