NCAA In Full Support Of Transgender Athletes Participating In Sports

The NCAA is in support of transgender athletes participating in college sports.

The conversation about whether or not to allow members of the trans community to play in sports has been the latest topic in headlines, as many states have created legislation to block the trans community from playing sports with cis-gender athletes, CNN reports.

On Monday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) shared that it “firmly and unequivocally supports” transgender athletes participating in sports. “Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport,” the NCAA’s Board of Governors said in a statement Monday.

It went on to say that it has a current policy “that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports.”

“Our approach — which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women’s sports — embraces the evolving science on this issue and is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee,” the statement said.

A few states have already passed bans that would block transgender girls and women from playing in women’s sports. So far, South Dakota, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee have passed a law that would make it illegal for a doctor to administer gender-affirming treatments to trans patients.

In a statement, the National Center for Transgender Equality said it supported the NCAA’s response. “Every child deserves the love and support of the family and community. Dangerous proposals around the country are putting transgender young people at risk. The harm is real and is felt very personally by transgender kids just trying to live their lives as who they really are,” said Deputy Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen in a statement. “The NCAA is making it clear that their Board of Governors supports transgender athletes, and the board should hold those states passing these harmful laws accountable.”