Trump bans trans athletes from participating in female sports

(MENAFN) US President Donald trump has signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women from participating in female sports, affecting both school and professional competitions across the nation. The order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," includes penalties for institutions that fail to comply.

Trump emphasized that the move, announced on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, aims to preserve women’s sports for biological women. He likened it to his previous efforts to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the military, calling it a victory for women’s sports. Trump also declared that transgender athletes would be barred from competing in international events hosted in the US, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the World Cup. He further instructed the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny visa applications from men attempting to fraudulently enter as women athletes.

This order is part of a broader push by Trump’s administration targeting transgender rights, including limiting gender-affirming care and rolling back protections. LGBT advocates and civil rights groups have criticized the order, arguing it negatively affects transgender youth and may violate anti-discrimination laws. Legal challenges to the order are expected. The order's legitimacy may hinge on the interpretation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the action as upholding the promise of Title IX.

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