A new executive order actioned on Feb. 5 by President Donald Trump prevents transgender athletes from participating in college sports teams opposite of their assigned sex.
The executive order, named “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” states, “Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.”
The order also includes a policy to oppose male participation in women’s sports. The university has not released a statement regarding how the new policy will affect Kent State sports.
“Segregating sports by gender, a choice that we have made that now causes these unnecessary complications, is maybe what I see as the actual problem,” said Lauren Vachon, associate professor of LGBTQ studies. “These bans really don’t apply to very many people at all, at the collegiate level, we are talking about 10 athletes across the entire country.”
The U.S. Department of Education released a statement giving support for Trump’s recent order.
“The Department of Education stands proudly with President Trump’s action as we prioritize Title IX enforcement against educational institutions that refuse to give female athletes the Title IX protections they deserve.”
The new order will directly affect funds received for schools to allow transgender athletes to participate in sports of the opposite assigned sex at birth. Trump highlighted that this will take action for K-12 and universities specifically.
The president said that every school receives taxpayer money on notice, and if the new order is violated, then an investigation will be at risk.
“The biggest thing is community, even if it’s not in any official capacity, even if it’s not funded officially by the government,” said sophomore art history student, Liam Lorkowski. “I think people can come together and help one another.”
Emma Campbell is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
