The President has taken swift action fulfilling one of his repeated campaign promises, addressing the participation of transgender individuals in women’s and girls’ sports. Achieved by an executive order, known as “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, the move will no doubt face significant legal challenges, but for now stands to support female athletes in competition.
The order positions itself as a continuation of congressional action known as Title IX from 1972, which promises equal access for women in education- particularly sports- in schools that receive federal funding, and was considered a significant achievement in civil rights legislation.
Gaining profile in recent years, the matter of transgender athletes and their legal protections became nonpartisan during this past election, with more than half of voters expressing concern over the extent and overreach. Women and girls- particularly in high school and college- have been beaten in increasing numbers by athletes born as men, in some case even being seriously injured due to discrepancies in strength and abilities.
One recent case that achieved national attention was that of Payton McNabb, a volleyball player from North Carolina who was hit in the head so hard with a ball spiked by a transgender opponent that she suffered a traumatic brain injury and became partially paralyzed. Others have lost championship competitions and scholarship opportunities earmarked for female athletes due to existing policies, situations that will no longer be allowed if Trump’s executive order is allowed to stand by the courts.
Instead, Trump looks to return to the original spirit of Title IX and maintain female athletics as a space for women to excel and achieve, rather than be overshadowed by transgender competitors. Their safety, and ability to attain and showcase physical excellence, will once again be a primary focus of athletic programs rather than servicing a woke minority.
The recent order could also impact the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, scheduled to be hosted in Los Angeles. President Trump has stated that, if transgender athletes are allowed to participate in the competition by the International Olympics Committee, he will direct his State Department not to issue visas to any athletes attempting to do so.
Its enforcement has already been practiced, as the US Department of Health and Human Services issued a warning to the State of Maine to discontinue transgender competition. Democratic Governor Janet Mills had proactively declined to follow the recent executive guidelines, and a transgender athlete allegedly won a pole-vaulting competition in the state following the release of the order. If she continues to ignore the directive, Maine could be at risk of losing federal education funding and face a potential referral to the Department of Justice.
One surprise supporter of Trump’s trans action is Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, a long speculated candidate for the 2028 Presidential election. He called transgender participation in women’s sports “deeply unfair.” While his support for such protections generated significant uproar in more liberal circles, the truth remains that a significant majority of Americans- including 70% of Democrats- similarly oppose such competition.
How do you feel about Trump’s ban on transgender athletes? Does it protect women, or unfairly punish transgender individuals?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.