A coalition of 28 states, most recently adding Iowa and Ohio, is pressuring the NCAA to restore any athletics records to cisgender female athletes that were originally awarded to transgender female athletes.
According to KIMT3 News, the coalition formed following the University of Pennsylvania’s recent restoration of any titles previously attributed to Lia Thomas. That move, however, only applied to UPenn, not the entire NCAA.
A coalition of 28 states, most recently adding Iowa and Ohio, is pressuring the NCAA to restore any athletics records to cisgender female athletes that were originally awarded to transgender female athletes.
According to KIMT3 News, the coalition formed following the University of Pennsylvania’s recent restoration of any titles previously attributed to Lia Thomas. That move, however, only applied to UPenn, not the entire NCAA.
The coalition sent a letter to the NCAA, demonstrating their support of Title IX and “fairness” in women’s sports. That letter celebrates the NCAA’s February policy shift barring transgender women from female sports, but it says “that this change isn’t enough,” as any previous honors and records earned by transgender women on NCAA teams have not been restored to cisgender women.
“The women whose athletic titles and records were given to men deserve justice,” said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. “They deserve to be able to practice and compete safely and fairly in the sports they love and receive recognition for their achievements. It’s simple: women’s sports and spaces are for women, and Title IX protects these women from discrimination. The NCAA should follow the law.”
Related: Association President Tells Senate Panel There are Fewer Than 10 Trans Athletes Competing in NCAA
Ohio’s attorney general Dave Yost said in a statement, “Fairness demands that we recognize the women who trained, competed and won under the rules as they were meant to be. Title IX exists for a very important reason. There is no doubt that the women forced to compete against biological males in female events were impacted negatively and unfairly disadvantaged.”
While the coalition hopes that any NCAA records awarded to transgender athletes will be reassigned, it cannot be ignored that Charlie Baker, this year, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that there were “less than 10” transgender athletes in the NCAA. And, close to 30 states currently bar transgender athletes from competing.
