On National Girls & Women in Sports Day, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The move, praised by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), is framed as a return to protecting biological realities in athletics. ERLC President Brent Leatherwood called it “an encouraging and helpful step toward protecting women,” criticizing the Biden administration’s approach to Title IX.
The order defines “sex” strictly as an individual’s immutable biological classification, effectively ending efforts to tie transgender participation to Title IX protections. This follows Trump’s earlier executive order promoting recognition of only two sexes and a directive banning gender reassignment treatments for minors.
Public support appears strong; a 2023 Gallup poll showed 69% of Americans favor athletes competing based on birth gender. Legal battles continue, including a lawsuit from former University of Pennsylvania swimmers challenging Title IX violations related to transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
Read full story from Baptist Press.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This is a summary of Scott Barkley’s story and originally published by Baptist Press.
