A lawsuit challenging New Hampshire’s Save Women’s Sports law and two executive orders issued by President Donald Trump was dismissed on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The voluntary dismissal by the plaintiffs, male athletes Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, occurred in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

This significant legal development follows a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29, 2026. In a 6-3 ruling, the high court upheld state laws in West Virginia and Idaho that protect girls’ and women’s sports by requiring athletic competition to be based on biological sex.

The Supreme Court’s ruling clarified that the term ‘sex’ within Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs, “cannot plausibly be interpreted to refer to anything other than biological sex.” This interpretation has far-reaching implications, affirming the legality of similar laws or regulations across 27 states, including New Hampshire.

Dismissal in *Tirrell v. Edelblut* Following Supreme Court Precedent

The lawsuit, formally known as *Tirrell v. Edelblut*, was voluntarily withdrawn by the plaintiffs, Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, along with their parents, on Wednesday afternoon, July 8, 2026. The action effectively ends the legal challenge against New Hampshire’s House Bill 1205 (HB 1205) and the federal executive orders.

Filed in August 2024, the initial complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire asserted that HB 1205 violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional right to Equal Protection and Title IX by preventing them from competing against girls. The plaintiffs were represented by attorneys from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).

Subsequently, the male athletes expanded their lawsuit to challenge two executive orders signed by President Trump: ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ and “Defending Women from Gender Ideology and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” These orders aimed to protect women’s sports and spaces nationwide by potentially cutting funding for educational institutions and athletic associations that do not ensure equal opportunities for female students.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a non-profit legal organization, intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of Female Athletes United. This organization includes members in New Hampshire and other states who have competed against male athletes. ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Litigation Strategy Jonathan Scruggs stated, “Women and girls deserve privacy, safety, and equal opportunities. That can’t happen when males are competing in women’s sports, taking spots on women’s athletic teams, and winning women’s championships.”

Supreme Court’s Landmark Title IX Interpretation

The pivotal event leading to the dismissal was the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on June 29, 2026. This ruling upheld the constitutionality of state laws in West Virginia and Idaho that mandate athletic teams be separated based on biological sex, rather than gender identity.

The Court’s majority opinion explicitly stated that ‘sex’ in Title IX, the federal statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, refers exclusively to biological sex. This interpretation provides a clear legal foundation for states to enact and enforce laws that reserve women’s sports for biological females.

This decision has broad implications, affirming the legal standing of similar protective measures in 27 states. It also sets a precedent for other ongoing lawsuits challenging protections for girls’ sports across the nation. The ruling effectively removed the primary legal grounds upon which the New Hampshire challenge was based.

New Hampshire’s Save Women’s Sports Law and Its Origins

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed the Save Women’s Sports bill (HB 1205) into law in 2024. This legislation requires that any interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic team or sport sponsored by a school be separated based on sex. The law specifies that a student’s sex is determined primarily by the biological sex listed on their unamended birth certificate, applying to public schools with students in fifth through 12th grades, as well as private schools competing against them.

Governor Sununu articulated the law’s purpose at the time of its signing, stating that “HB 1205 ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions.” The enactment of this law was, in part, a response to national discussions and specific instances, such as male athlete CeCe Telfer winning an NCAA women’s title in the 400-meter hurdles final in 2019.

The litigation itself had a significant impact on the plaintiffs. Chris Erchull, senior staff attorney at GLAD Law, detailed the personal toll on the students. Parker Tirrell, a rising senior at Plymouth Regional High School, ceased playing soccer last year, citing sideline protests, social media attacks, and relentless scrutiny. Her mother, Sara Tirrell, described how away games felt like walking ‘on pins and needles,’ with incidents including opposing players writing ‘PGS’ (Protect Girls’ Sports) on their faces and one team refusing to play. These experiences led Parker to quit mid-season in fall 2025, deciding the game was no longer enjoyable.