WIAA changes policy, now bans transgender students from playing in girls sports

The state organization that oversees most Wisconsin high school athletic programs updated a policy Wednesday to say only athletes, “designated as females at birth” would be allowed to compete in girls sports.

The change by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association comes as the Trump Administration is acting to prohibit transgender women and girls from competing in sports. 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 5 called the “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order.” 

WIAA cited compliance with federal directives for its change in policy. 

“Working in consultation with legal counsel, our Board updated this policy to ensure clarity is provided to our membership as they work to comply with new federal guidance from the White House,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said in a statement. 

The board vote is similar to a recent action by the NCAA.

Before the change Wednesday, WIAA’s transgender policy, adopted in 2013, allowed students regardless of the sex they were assigned at birth to participate in sports. 

At least two Wisconsin school districts have wanted to pass measures to ban trans athletes from school teams. 

Arrowhead Union High School and the New London School Board have both advocated for “saving women’s sports” bills. 

Wisconsin legislative Republicans and religious and conservative groups like the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Wisconsin Family Action and Heritage Action for America have long pushed for a ban on transgender athletes.

In April, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have created a ban. 

In his veto message, Evers said he objected to “codifying discrimination into state statute.”

Abigail Swetz, executive director of Fair Wisconsin, said playing sports as a child is all about getting to be a part of a team and being part of being something bigger than yourself.

That is especially important for a trans kid, Swetz said.

“I find this ruling really disappointing and frankly very antithetical to the values that WIAA espouses,” Swetz said. “When a trans kid gets to play on a team where they feel like they belong, that is so important. Especially right now, when the trans community is under attack from a hostile federal government.”

Title IX was originally passed in 1972 to prevent sex discrimination in education, including athletic programs. 

This year, the Biden administration updated the law to forbid discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, but Trump’s executive orders since his inauguration rolled back that change.

Editor’s note: This story might be updated further on Wednesday.