Donald Trump has issued his fifth executive order targeting transgender Americans — who make up less than 1% of the U.S. population — since taking office in order to distract from his inability to address issues like lowering costs for working families and making our communities safer. This time, he is targeting transgender girls and women who simply want to play sports alongside their teammates — yet another blatant attempt by him and his administration to systematically erase transgender and gender non-conforming people from every facet of public life.
Local schools and athletic associations are the ones who should be handling these issues, and they are already creating policies that protect transgender youth and ensure a level playing field for all students. A federal ban that overrides those rules could require young girls to answer inappropriate personal questions or even be subjected to genital inspections by strangers if they want to participate in sports.
The head of the NCAA, himself a former Republican Governor, recently told a U.S. Senate panel that he knew of less than 10 out transgender athletes among the 510,000 currently competing in college sports — less than .002 percent of all NCAA athletes.
Studies confirm that participation in sports provides kids with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, and cooperation —fundamental lessons that every young person deserves the chance to experience. Beyond the field, sports also contribute significantly to students’ overall well-being, fostering better mental health, boosting academic performance, and enhancing self-esteem and confidence.
As with Trump’s previous executive orders, this will take time to implement and could face legal challenges. We will consult with our state and national partners regarding the implications of this executive order and will continue to update our community.
Equity California Executive Director
Tony Hoang