A4TE Issues Statement on Trump's Executive Order Banning Trans Athletes

Washington, D.C. Today, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, President Trump issued a sweeping ban on trans girls and women in athletics at every level of competition, from kindergarten through college; in every sport, from baseball to archery; and every age, including children as young as five who simply want to play with their friends. In response, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of Advocates for Trans Equality, released the following statement: 
 
“This executive order is a malicious and baseless attack on trans girls and women nationwide. Every child deserves a quality education, including the opportunity to participate in school athletics, which teaches students of all ages the value of teamwork, dedication, and ambition. This executive order isn’t about protecting women and girls in sports—it does nothing to address the real issues facing women and girls in athletics, such as unequal access to funding and facilities, abuse by coaches, physicians, and other trusted adults, and the unconscionable gender pay gap in professional sports. This executive order targeting transgender youth is part of Trump’s campaign to erase transgender people from public life.   
 
“While American families struggle with real issues – wages that can’t keep up with the rising cost of living, housing insecurities, and dwindling access to health care - the Trump administration is turning a blind eye to these urgent needs. Instead of addressing the challenges that impact everyone's lives, they are doubling down on their extreme anti-trans agenda, targeting youth who just want to play sports. 
 
“Trans people deserve to participate fully in all aspects of life, including athletics. The Trump administration and other anti-trans politicians have exploited public misunderstanding of trans people - particularly trans women - to manufacture fear and division. But the facts are clear: there is no scientific evidence that trans women and girls have any inherent advantage over their non-transgender peers in sports. 

“Our leaders should be focused on solving real problems - not scapegoating a marginalized community for political gain. Banning trans people from sports and isolating them from their peers won’t erase their existence - it will only cause harm. As our Legal and Policy teams continue to assess the full impact of this order, it’s important to remember that executive orders do not change the law. The executive branch exists to enforce the laws of this country, and that includes upholding the Constitution. No president is above it. The government has no place interfering in our personal lives, and we remain vigilant against further attacks on our fundamental rights - our privacy, our autonomy, and our ability to live freely. 

“It bears repeating: this Executive Order is not yet law and A4TE urges all schools, universities, and sporting bodies not to comply. A4TE condemns the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s move to pre-emptively comply with a blatantly discriminatory and unconstitutional policy. A4TE calls upon national and state athletic associations to stand with the passionate transgender athletes devoted to their sport.”