In a recent decision, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics made an announcement that transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women's sports. The Council of Presidents, in a unanimous 20-0 vote, approved a policy stating that only individuals who were assigned the female gender at birth are eligible to compete in women's sports. This policy also extends to transgender women and nonbinary students undergoing masculinizing hormone therapy.
NAIA President Jim Carr explained the decision, stating, "We know there are a lot of different opinions out there. For us, we believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA." He further mentioned that the new policy is in line with the principles behind Title IX, allowing for separate but equal opportunities for women to compete.
Carr also clarified that athletes who are no longer eligible for women's competition under the new policy can still participate in men's sports. Additionally, students undergoing hormone therapy are permitted to engage in activities like workouts, practices, and team events, but are not allowed to compete in interscholastic sports.
"The NAIA has established separate categories for male and female participants in all sports except competitive cheer and competitive dance," announced the NAIA. "Each sport in the NAIA involves a mix of strength, speed, and stamina, giving male student-athletes a competitive edge. Therefore, the NAIA's policy for transgender student-athletes applies to all sports except competitive cheer and competitive dance, which are open to all students."
It is believed that the NAIA is the first organization to require athletes to compete based on their assigned sex at birth.
While the exact number of transgender athletes at the high school and college levels is unknown, it is assumed to be relatively low.
The NAIA serves as the national governing body for 249 predominantly small colleges and approximately 83,000 student-athletes across over 25 sports. The organization's membership consists of around 80% private schools and is not affiliated with the NCAA's three competitive divisions.
In response to the NAIA's decision, the NCAA issued a statement shortly after: "College sports are a primary platform for women's sports in the United States, and the NCAA remains committed to upholding Title IX, investing significantly in women's sports, and ensuring equitable competition for all student-athletes in NCAA championships."
Shiwali Patel, senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center, expressed strong disapproval of the NAIA's policy.
"This discriminatory policy is unacceptable and directly impacts transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, as well as restricting the potential of all athletes," Patel stated. "It is crucial to understand that such discriminatory measures do not promote fairness in competition; instead, they promote exclusion and perpetuate harmful stereotypes that affect all women."
The debate surrounding transgender athletes has sparked controversy, particularly among conservative groups and others who argue that transgender individuals should not be allowed to compete on girls' and women's sports teams. Recently, a group of over a dozen current and former women's college athletes filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that the organization's decision to permit transgender women to participate in women's sports infringes upon their rights.
While approximately 20 states have passed regulations prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in K-12 and collegiate sports teams, a proposal from the Biden administration aims to block such blanket bans. This proposal, which has faced numerous delays and resistance, is expected to be finalized this year. The rule would assert that blanket bans go against Title IX, a pivotal gender-equity law enacted in 1972.
As of 2022, the NCAA has updated its policies regarding transgender athlete inclusion to align with national sports governing bodies. The third phase of the revised policy will incorporate standards set by national and international sports governing bodies into the NCAA's regulations, with an anticipated implementation date of August 1st.
