The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) voted on Monday to ban transgender women from women’s competitions starting next school year, affecting a total of 241 colleges.
Context
Debates around transgender athletes have soared in recent years, with many conservatives arguing that transgender women competing in all-female leagues allow for an unfair advantage against biological girls and women. However, proponents of allowing transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity argue that sports should be inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of gender identity, emphasizing the importance of equality and non-discrimination, pointing out that transgender athletes often face significant barriers in sports, including societal stigma and discrimination.
However, the issue has been left up for states to decide, with over 20 states implementing policies that restrict transgender athletes’ ability to participate in sports that correspond with their gender identity. Those laws sparked lawsuits, arguing that transgender athletes were being discriminated against.
What We Know
On Monday, at the NAIA’s national convention, the Council of Presidents determined that beginning August 1, “only students whose biological sex is female” may compete in women’s sports. That includes transgender men or nonbinary students who are not receiving masculinizing hormones.
Claudia Ayuso Ramirez/Getty
“We are unwavering in our support of fair competition for our student-athletes,” NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr said in a news release. “It is crucial that NAIA member institutions, conferences, and student-athletes participate in an environment that is equitable and respectful. With input from our member institutions and the Transgender Task Force, the NAIA’s Council of Presidents has confirmed our path forward.”
According to the NAIA’s website, there are 241 member schools, most of them private with relatively low enrollments, that will be affected by this vote.
This comes after advocates have highlighted that the NCAA has guidelines in place since 2010, which include requirements for transgender women to undergo hormone therapy for at least one year before competing in women’s sports, aiming to create a level playing field.
Views
Historically, the NCAA has generally advocated for inclusion but has resisted the pressure to pull championship events from states that prohibit transgender athletes from competing in publicly funded school sports.
“I think that [the NAIA vote] provides a feeling that the NCAA would have the latitude to do the same,” Anna Baeth, director of research for the queer sports advocacy group Athlete Ally told the Washington Post. “I think that that feeling of latitude would be incredibly misguided.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.