The Virginia High School League (VHSL) announced on Monday that its executive committee has decided to align with a recent executive order concerning the participation of transgender athletes in school sports. The order, issued by President Trump, seeks to maintain that only biological females can compete in women’s sports.
This executive order was signed on February 5, coinciding with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, an event that emphasizes the importance of equal opportunities in sports for female athletes. The VHSL governs high school sporting events across Virginia, which involves more than 177,000 students from its 318 member schools each year.
In a statement, VHSL Executive Director John W. Haun highlighted the association’s responsibility to provide clear guidance to its member schools in light of this order. He emphasized the importance of having a consistent and clear direction regarding the participation of transgender athletes in female sports.
According to the recent announcement, the VHSL plans to propose updates to its existing policies to incorporate the requirements of the executive order. This means they will revise their policy manual promptly to reflect the new guidelines, ensuring that all member schools are informed and compliant with the changes.
President Trump, while signing the order, conveyed that his motivation stems from a belief in the necessity of preserving women’s sports for biological females. He stated, “Women’s sports will be only for women,” suggesting that the goal is to protect the integrity and competitive fairness of female athletics.
In addition to the VHSL’s response, the NCAA, which oversees college athletics, also moved swiftly to implement a ban on transgender athletes competing on women’s teams. The NCAA’s new policy, which took effect immediately after the executive order was signed, specifies that individuals assigned male at birth are not allowed to compete in women’s sports at the collegiate level, although the policy does permit biological females to participate in men’s sports.
NCAA President Charlie Baker remarked that having clear rules is crucial for the thousands of student-athletes across the country. By providing a standardized approach to eligibility, he aims to reduce confusion and disparities that may arise from varying state regulations and legal decisions.
The signing ceremony of the executive order saw the presence of several advocates for women’s sports. Among them, Riley Gaines, a notable swimmer and host of the podcast “Gaines for Girls,” spoke out against the inclusion of transgender women in female sports competitions. Her views have sparked considerable discussion, especially after her experiences competing against Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who gained attention for her NCAA championship wins.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt underscored that the executive order is a commitment to upholding the principles of Title IX, which protects against gender discrimination in educational programs and activities, including sports. She indicated that President Trump aimed to restore “common sense” regarding the issue and stressed the importance of the legislation moving through Congress that seeks to protect women’s sports at the school level.
In Virginia, a state that voted for the Democratic candidate in the last presidential election, the discussions around the VHSL’s decision and the executive order continue to reflect deeper national conversations about gender, identity, and athletics. The complexities of these discussions often intersect with broader social issues, influencing how sports organizations and educators approach policies regarding student participation based on biological sex versus gender identity.
As this situation develops, it is clear that the implications of these decisions will resonate within school sports and beyond, shaping the landscape for future generations of athletes. The VHSL is committed to ensuring that their policies reflect both legal requirements and the values upheld by the community they serve.
