In a joint effort, nine Republican governors from various states have penned a letter to the NCAA, urging the organization to implement a ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports. The signatories of this letter include Governors Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Mike Parson of Missouri, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Greb Abbott of Texas, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming.
Of note, all these states, except Nevada, have already passed legislation prohibiting transgender youth from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity. The group’s collective stance challenges the NCAA’s current policy on transgender athletes, which allows participation to be determined on a sport-by-sport basis, based on the policies of each sport’s national governing body.
“The NCAA has the chance to guarantee an environment where female college athletes can thrive without the concern of inequities,” the letter states. “We trust that you also want to guarantee just such an environment. But this policy allows the NCAA to avoid responsibility for ensuring the fairness of collegiate sports – therefore it must be changed.”
The governors framed their argument by referencing the story of anti-trans activist Riley Gaines, portraying it as a tragic incident that deprived her of the recognition she deserved. They asserted that “science proves that it is fundamentally unfair for a biological male to compete against a biological female” and emphasized that this fundamental principle does not change with gender identity declarations.
The letter also expressed concerns that stories like Riley Gaines’s would become more common if the NCAA persisted with its current policy. Additionally, it used misgendering language to describe transgender women, claiming that policies allowing mixed-gender competition would diminish the achievements of remarkable female athletes.
In response to the letter, ACLU of Wyoming executive director Libby Skarin criticized it as “another attempt to erase transgender people from society.” The organization accused Governor Gordon of “grandstanding” for signing the letter while previously refusing to sign anti-trans sports legislation in Wyoming. The ACLU emphasized that transgender individuals deserve a place in sports and should not be exploited for political purposes.
The debate over transgender athletes’ inclusion in women’s sports continues to be a contentious issue, with this letter from Republican governors adding to the ongoing discourse surrounding the rights and opportunities of transgender individuals in the sporting arena.
