June 3

By Saeed Anand

Donald Trump has ordered a ban on transgender* women (that is, men who have changed their gender) from participating in women’s sports competitions in the United States. The executive order of the president is published on the White House website. “Now women’s sports will be for women only. The war against women’s sports is over,” Trump said before signing the document (The Washington Post). According to the decree, educational institutions that continue to allow transgender people to compete in women’s sports will lose federal funding. Such actions by schools will be regarded as a violation of the federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in educational programs. The US federal authorities will also urge the application of similar rules in other sports associations not affiliated with schools and colleges. In addition, the U.S. Department of State will be ordered to check the visas of athletes entering the United States to ensure that those born male do not impersonate women.