Yesterday, US President Donald Trump issued another executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from playing women’s sports.
He said “the war on women’s sports is over”
In the signing ceremony of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Trump declared, “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”
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In the same room, there were politicians and female athletes who have previously expressed support for a ban—including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines.
Trump made this a key issue in the 2024 election campaign
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump’s pledge became one of his most popular rallying calls.
Trump had previously mocked Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for her strong support for trans rights, and Republicans used the issue to win over voters.
White House says order “upholds the promise of Title IX”
Title IX is 1972 legislation that forbids discrimination based on sex in education.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the order “upholds the promise of Title IX” and demands “immediate action, including enforcement actions, against schools and athletic associations” that restrict women’s single-sex sports and locker rooms.
Biden attempted to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students
The Biden administration previously expanded Title IX to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
The expansion was criticized by Republicans as a pretext to permit transgender student-athletes to participate in girls’ sports.
Trump signs the order on National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The order was issued on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It is one of the most recent in a series of executive actions targeting transgender individuals by the Republican president.
A UN report found nearly 900 medals were won by biological males
According to a United Nations report, biological males have won around 900 medals in women’s sports.
Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem wrote, “The replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against males.”
Trump argues public opinion is against transgender rights
Throughout the campaign, Trump figured out that the subject struck a chord with people from all political backgrounds.
Prior to the election, he mentioned eliminating “transgender insanity,” but his campaign never really mentioned enough details on how this will be done.
Schools could lose federal funding over transgender athletes
There is some clarity in the order.
- It gives the Education Department the power to fine schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on the grounds that they violate Title IX.
- Federal funds may not be available to any school that is found to be in violation.
There has been ongoing controversy over transgender athletes
Particularly after swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 title in 2022, the amount of controversy and discussion regarding the future of women’s sports increased.
DHS will deny visas to transgender athletes
Finally, Trump declared that Kristi Noem, the Director of Homeland Security, would “deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes to try and get into the Games.”
