Trump signs executive order banning trans women from sports teams
President Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing on school sports teams.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order and following in the footsteps of the NCAA, ruled Wednesday that it was no longer allowing athletes assigned as male at birth to compete in girls athletic competitions.
“Working in consultation with legal counsel, our Board updated this policy to ensure clarity is provided to our membership as they work to comply with new federal guidance from the White House,” WIAA executive director Stephanie Hauser said.
Here’s what to know about the change and transgender athletes in Wisconsin high-school athletics.
What is the WIAA and how are rules changed within the WIAA?
The WIAA oversees Wisconsin high-school athletic competition for 15 recognized sports (most with boys and girls equivalents).
The nonprofit organization isn’t strictly a government body but includes a membership of public high schools, nonpublic high schools, public middle schools and nonpublic middle schools.
The organization considers itself to be governed by its member schools. Rules and policies are developed and implemented either through membership vote for constitutional issues or through membership-elected committees for sports season regulations.
This particular ruling was voted upon by the “Board of Control,” a senior committee that “has the ultimate authority in determining the outcome of sport seasons rule recommendations and regulations.”
“Among the advisory groups that provide input to the Board are the coaches advisory committees for each sport; the sports advisory committee, comprised of school athletic directors from each of the seven districts; the advisory council, consisting of school administrators from each elector district; and the executive staff. Other groups with advisory responsibilities include the medical advisory committee, sportsmanship committee and the officials advisory committee.”
As a member of the National Federation of High Schools, the WIAA often adheres to the rules put forth by that organizing body.
Does the NFHS or other high-school athletics bodies ban transgender athletes from competing?
The NFHS has not yet made recent changes to its policy on transgender athletes.
More than half of states have enacted measures restricting trans athletes from playing school sports on the teams that align with their gender identities, but courts have blocked state bans in Arizona, Idaho, Utah and West Virginia.
The New Jersey state association has said they won’t be making changes and will continue to allow transgender kids to play on a sports team that aligns with their gender identity.
What does the new WIAA stipulation about transgender athletes say?
The WIAA policy indicates that a student whose sex is assigned male at birth may practice in a girls sport and “receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice,” but the athlete may not compete in the competitions.
Also of note: A student-athlete assigned female at birth who has begun hormone therapy (such as testosterone) may not compete in a girls sport but is eligible to also practice.
Are athletes who assigned as female at birth allowed to compete on boys teams?
Yes. In many instances, girls have competed on WIAA boys teams, particularly in circumstances where a school did not offer a girls equivalent for the sport.
“Regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender identity, a student-athlete may practice and compete in a WIAA boy’s sport, assuming they meet all other WIAA eligibility requirements,” the WIAA says.
What did the WIAA previously say about transgender athletes?
The WIAA’s non-discrimination policy had previously indicated that a student should be allowed to participate on a sports team consistent with their gender identity, but it left the door open for changes down the road.
“Case law is still developing this area, but denying a student the opportunity to participate on a sports team consistent with his or her gender identity is likely prohibited sex discrimination,” it said. “Schools should make case by case determinations regarding transgender student participation consistent with WIAA policy.”
The WIAA has confronted the issue in its bylaws as far back as 2013.
How many transgender athletes compete in WIAA sports?
The WIAA keeps no official record of transgender athletes competing. WIAA communications director Todd Clark has said on multiple occasions that the complaints he’s received in his office pertain to general policy and not to a specific athlete.
Is Donald Trump’s executive order to ban transgender athletes legal?
Legal and civil rights experts have said it’s not clear Trump has the authority to implement such broad restrictions immediately and unilaterally at the federal level. To prevent transgender students from playing school sports legally, Congress would likely have to amend the 1972 sex discrimination law known as Title IX, or the Education Department would have to process new regulations.
Texas attorney Scott Schneider told USA Today that the question of whether transgender student-athletes have a right to play on their chosen team has remained unresolved by the courts. For that reason, he didn’t believe the president’s announcement would have wide-ranging implications.
A judge Tuesday also criticized Trump’s efforts to ban transgender soldiers from the military, calling the premise of two sexes biologically inaccurate.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=67b6b849c75f4e8e83b7e0a8e9555d3d&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fhigh-school%2F2025%2F02%2F19%2Fwhat-to-know-about-the-wiaas-new-policy-on-transgender-athletes%2F79211093007%2F&c=10317690357213906741&mkt=de-de
Author :
Publish date : 2025-02-19 11:40:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.