President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday (February 5) banning transgender women and girls from participating in female sports. The “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order” aims to protect women’s access to fair athletic opportunities. This is the fourth executive order targeting transgender individuals since Trump took office on January 20.
During the signing at the White House, Trump stated, “The radical left has waged an all-out campaign to erase the very concept of biological sex.” He emphasized that the order would end what he described as a “war on women’s sports.” The executive order will roll back the Biden administration’s guidance on Title IX, which required schools to allow transgender students to join sports teams that align with their gender identity. Instead, the new order bars students assigned male at birth from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
The order also affects U.S. visa policies, with officials stating that claims of being female for competitive purposes will be reviewed for fraud. The timing of the order coincides with the 39th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day, highlighting its significance.
The issue of transgender women in sports has been divisive, with a Gallup survey indicating that nearly 70% of U.S. adults believe trans athletes should compete according to their birth sex. Supporters of the order, including Rep. Nancy Mace and former swimmer Riley Gaines, praised it for restoring fairness in sports. However, the Human Rights Campaign warned that the order could lead to harassment and discrimination against young people.
Prior to this order, Trump signed three others targeting transgender individuals, including one barring transgender people from serving openly in the military.
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