Transgender Executive Order- Impact on Sports
In the short time President Biden has been in office he has already signed a plethora of executive orders, one of the more controversial ones is the Transgender Executive Order. According to the Whitehouse this executive order is aimed at “preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation”. According to Athletics Director Roger Haynes “This statement did not explicitly reference High School and College sports.”
Transgender athletics in schools was highly debated last year as 17 states introduced bills to restrict transgender athletes from participating in the gender they identify with. In the case of athletics, various media outlets and politicians have vehemently spoken out against this order as they believe it calls on schools to allow transgender athletes to participate in the sport of the gender that they identify with. Put simply, a transgender female is permitted to participate in women’s athletics programs. While this is a major step forward for transgender rights it has sparked controversy as this gives transgender females a natural advantage. Former South Carolina Governor and U.S ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley spoke out against Biden’s executive order writing for the National Review claiming “that biological boys and girls are built differently…the best male athletes have a natural advantage over the best female athletes.”
Athletes at Monmouth have also mirrored Haley’s views as some female athletes at Monmouth College claim that transgender athletes “have a huge advantage over the other sex”. Athletic Director Haynes reminds us that in October 2019, a number of organisations such as the Paralympics and IAAF met to discuss rules that will also transgender athletes to enter female competitions. As Haynes notes, athletic organisations such as IAAF have “decided to use Serum Testosterone levels for eligibility for competition in the female category”. Naturally, when asked about the transgender order, Haynes stated, “I take very seriously the need of the college and athletic department to take seriously the equal opportunity issues presented by transgender Student athletes… Providing equal opportunities in school programming is a core value of education that must be understood and valued”. For more information regarding NCAA guidelines for Transgender Student Athletes participation see the link below: https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf
Kieren Marshall - Staff Writer