At the end of October nine Republican governors sent a letter to the NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards, asking the organization to review and rewrite the policy allowing so-called “transgenders” into women’s sports. It's a letter that has received a muted response.
According to the letter:
We are writing you concerning the NCAA’s Transgender Student Athlete Policy. The policy reads, “transgender student-athlete participation for each sport [is] to be determined by the policy for the national governing body of that sport.” We understand from our own conversations with NCAA President Charlie Baker, who is also a former colleague of ours, that your Committee is responsible for reviewing this policy and recommending changes to the NCAA Board of Governors.
We are cc’ing the members of the NCAA Board of Governors, as we understand that this Board initially passed the Transgender Student Athlete Policy, including CSMAS’ role in that process.
The NCAA has the chance to guarantee an environment where female college athletes can thrive without the concern of inequities. We trust that you also want to guarantee just such an environment. But this policy allows the NCAA to avoid responsibility for ensuring the fairness of collegiate sports – therefore it must be changed.
As former competitors, you understand the years of blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to succeed at a high level. Competing in sports has so many benefits. We learn grace in victory, poise in defeat, and the importance of teamwork in every aspect of life. For young women, Title IX guaranteed them an equal chance to compete. And if these young women worked hard enough, they could even earn opportunities for collegiate scholarships and other success and recognition.
Related: Transgender Woman Charged for Sexually Assaulting Children
Despite claiming to take some “action,” writer Giovanna Johnson of The College Fix has noted that nothing seems to have been done.
Although the association’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports discussed the transgender athlete topic at its Dec. 11 meeting, and took some sort of “action,” according to a copy of the agenda, there have been no public announcements about any specifics.
While the state governors who wrote the letter wait for a response, some suspect the reply they eventually get may be in the form of a penalty.
The NCAA previously penalized North Carolina for having common sense and requiring people to use bathrooms that match their birth gender. In 2016, the NCAA moved championship events from North Carolina and the law ended up being repealed shortly after.
Governors who signed the letter include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Follow MRCTV on X!
Sen. Paul’s Festivus Report Exposes $900B In Gov't Waste https://t.co/ssCSzwAXgm
— MRCTV (@mrctv) December 27, 2023