NCAA backs trans student-athletes as Republicans push exclusionary bills across the nation

In a statement from the board of governors for the NCAA, the group stressed that the body “firmly and unequivocally” supports including transgender athletes in college sports. The NCAA said its commitment is “grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition,” adding that the organization expects all student-athletes will be treated with “dignity and respect.”

And in terms of all of these states pushing anti-trans legislation that would exclude trans girls from participating and competing? In the same statement, the board of governors stated that when deciding where championships are held, “NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected.” Basically: The NCAA will only host championships in states where transgender student-athletes can participate without discrimination. As it should be.

The ACLU tweeted in celebration of the statement.

As reported by local outlet 4029, a spokesperson for the NCAA told the outlet they are monitoring the situation but have not yet made decisions about specific championship games. 

We know that a number of states have these bills in the works. Some states, like Mississippi and Arkansas, have already signed these bills into law. How are Republicans reacting to the NCAA’s statement? Here’s one example out of Arkansas.

On Monday, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said in a statement: “It is disappointing to see the NCAA take this punitive approach. Sports does not need to disenfranchise a state just because it passes a law that the NCAA finds objectionable. As time goes on, I expect the NCAA to relax its position because there are already multiple states that have adopted a similar law as we have in Arkansas.”

Here’s the tweet with said statement.

As time goes on, we will hopefully have protections for transgender folks (both youth and adults) across the nation. If these laws are disenfranchising anyone, it’s transgender people, who are already vulnerable to barriers in housing and employment and are already disproportionately harmed by assault and harassment. If anything is disappointing, it’s the way Republicans try to villainize transgender folks as a means of distracting from the ongoing pandemic—and their ongoing failures.