United States President Donald Trump will sign a decree on Wednesday (5) effectively banning the participation of transgender girls and women in women’s sporting events in schools and colleges, a White House authority said.
The decree, entitled “Keeping men out of women’s sports,” would fulfill Trump’s promise during the 2024 presidential campaign. The decree was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Since taking office, Trump’s government has widely aimed at transgender rights. The politician had promised during his campaign to restrict gender affirmation care and the participation of transgender in sports.
Authorities have already begun to take action to remove at least one transgender member of the US military service and has rejected transgender candidates, according to a court document.
In late January, the US President signed a decree in which he ordered the closure of the United States Armed Forces Diversity Program, days after departing and putting on paid government officials who worked on diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
In his first speech after taking office, Trump stated that, from now on, the United States government would consider only two genders – asculine and female.
Transgender rights have emerged as a political critical point in the United States in the last decade, with the focus to turn to sports participation in recent years, as some transgender university athletes have achieved success, such as Lia Thomas, who has won a national university title at Women’s swimming in 2022.
About 3% of US high school students identify themselves as transgender people, according to data released by disease control and prevention centers in October. In the United States, 25 states have so far implemented some laws that limit transgender student athletes to participate in competitions, according to Movement Advancement Project, a Think Tank that advocates transgender rights.
