Small colleges association bans transgender student-athletes from women's competitions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Transgender athletes are now banned from competing in women’s athletics through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the organization announced Monday.
The NAIA oversees athletic competitions for 240 mostly small colleges throughout the U.S. that are not members of the NCAA. Private schools make up the majority of its membership.
In its new transgender participation policy, the NAIA argues Title IX protections require that only those whose biological sex is female compete in women’s sports.
“The NAIA supports fair and safe competition opportunities for all student-athletes,” the organization wrote. “Title IX ensures there are separate and equal opportunities for female athletes. As a result, the NAIA offers separate categories of competition in all sports except for competitive cheer and competitive dance, which are both co-ed.”
Continuing, the policy states those who have not undergone “any masculinizing hormone therapy” can participate in any women’s sport. Those who have experienced such procedures are allowed to participate in team activities and workouts, but they may only compete in “external competition that is not a countable contest as defined by the NAIA.”
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“For the sake of this policy, biological sex is defined by distinguishing characteristics and can be supported by birth certificate or signed affidavit,” the NAIA wrote. “While rare, there have been cases where the sex assigned at birth does not match the biological sex, which led to the use of biological sex in this document.”
Women’s sports activist Riley Gaines cheered the move via social media.
“The NAIA becomes the first national college governing body to mandate athletes compete with their sex in a overwhelming 25-0 vote,” she wrote alongside a clapping emoji.
The move comes as the NCAA faces mounting pressure to do the same. The college athletics giant allows athletes to both compete and use facilities, such as locker rooms, based on gender identity. Gaines is one of 16 female athletes currently suing the NCAA over its policies.
"Promoting policies that deprive women of equal opportunities and safe spaces in collegiate sport appears to facilitate the NCAA’s goal of retaining control of the monetization of college sport," the lawsuit reads.
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