U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order barring transgender women from female sports, sparking debate over fairness and rights. Read more about the new policy and its impact.
Trump Signs Order Banning Transgender Women from Female Sports
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to stop transgender girls and women from competing in female sports. Supporters say this will make competitions fairer, while critics argue it takes away rights from a small group of athletes.
The order tells the Department of Justice to ensure all government agencies enforce a ban on transgender women and girls in female school sports. This is based on Trump’s view of Title IX, a law that prevents sex discrimination in education.
“The war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said at the signing ceremony. Around 100 women and girls stood behind him, with some dressed in sports uniforms. He added, “My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.”
The order could face legal challenges. It also threatens to cut off federal funding for schools that allow transgender athletes to compete in female sports. However, the rule would impact only a small number of athletes. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) president said in December that fewer than 10 transgender athletes are competing among the 530,000 in 1,100 schools.
The NCAA welcomed the order, saying it provides a clear national rule instead of different state laws. “The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy,” the group said.
Right now, the NCAA allows transgender women to compete only if they meet testosterone limits for each sport.
A Controversial Issue
Many voters support bans on transgender athletes, and Trump mentioned this often at his campaign rallies. Polls show most Americans do not agree with letting transgender athletes compete based on gender identity. So far, 25 Republican-led states have passed laws banning transgender girls from girls’ sports.
However, federal courts have generally ruled in favor of transgender girls competing. Courts in Idaho, West Virginia, Arizona, and New Hampshire have blocked state bans in specific cases. But in January 2024, a federal judge in Kentucky stopped the Biden administration from using Title IX to protect transgender athletes.
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Targeting Transgender Rights
This order is one of several Trump has signed against transgender rights. Other orders include:
- Blocking federal money for gender transition healthcare for people under 19
- Banning transgender people from serving in the military
- Requiring government workers to refer only to “sex” and not “gender”
Trump’s order also applies beyond U.S. schools. It calls for denying visas to transgender female athletes who want to compete in the U.S. It also tells the State Department to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules, which currently allow transgender athletes to compete under certain conditions.
A White House official said the U.S. will use “all of our authority” to enforce the ban at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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Reactions to the Ban
Many LGBTQ+ rights groups have criticized the order. Chris Erchull, a lawyer with GLAD Law, said that sports organizations already have rules to ensure fairness. “We’re talking about a tiny number of students. They are not a threat, yet there is this huge effort to take away their rights,” he said. “It’s an absurd way to approach those goals.”
Amnesty International called the ban an attempt to “stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.”
However, many Republican lawmakers support the order. Representative Tim Walberg said it protects women’s sports and accused the Biden administration of trying to please “radical activists.”
The legal battles over transgender sports bans are expected to continue, with courts and policymakers debating the issue in the coming months.
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