The governing body for generally small universities, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, approved a plan on Monday that prohibits trans players from competing in women’s sports.
The NAIA’s Council of Presidents approved the plan in a 20-0 voting on Monday, the firm confirmed to The Hill.
The approach taken by the National Collegiate Athletic Association contrasts with the choice. The NCAA, which covers most larger colleges and universities, does not have a ban on cooperation by trans individuals. In 2022, it did choose a sport-by-game plan to manage issues related to participation.
“We are unwavering in our support of good contest for our student-players,” NAIA President & CEO Jim Carr said in a statement. “It is crucial that NAIA representative institutions, meetings, and student-athletes participate in an atmosphere that is equal and polite. The NAIA’s Council of Presidents has established our course of action following input from our member corporations and the Transgender Task Force.”
All athletes are permitted to compete in NAIA-sponsored female athletics, but only those whose biological sex is adult and have not begun hormone therapy can do so.
Those who have already started hormone therapy must notify the NAIA regional office, but they can also take part in drills, practices, and team activities.
The new rule, which will take effect on August 1 and be applied to all sports, with the exception of praise and party, which are distinct NAIA categories, was announced, the organization noted.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ rights group, ripped the policy, arguing it “undermines basic decency deserved by all student-athletes”.
According to Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, “now, the NAIA decided to bar an entire category of people from competing merely because a right-wing anger campaign deliberately misrepresents and denigrates the realities of transgender athletes without supporting women’s sports.”
“The benefits of sports to the mind, body, and spirit are well known. Every student, including transgender student athletes, deserves the opportunity to be a part of a team and to learn about sportsmanship, self-discipline, perseverance and more,” Robinson.
Since 2020, at least 24 states have passed laws that categorically forbid transgender athletes from competing on school sports teams that reflect their gender identity.
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