Three former female swimmers from the University of Pennsylvania have filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard University, the Ivy League, the NCAA, and Penn, arguing that they faced discrimination after their transgender teammate, Lia Thomas, dominated the 2022 Ivy League Championship. The lawsuit claims that Thomas’s participation in women’s events violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, and calls for her records to be vacated and her eligibility revoked.
The case lands in the middle of an ongoing national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports, a topic that has drawn increasing political and legal scrutiny. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, stating that the move will “restore fairness” and protect female athletes. His assertion that keeping “men out of women’s sports” is a matter of basic fairness has sparked sharp reactions, particularly in progressive circles.
Beyond the sports arena, Trump’s policy—defining gender strictly as male or female—is also stirring debate in classrooms, where discussions around gender identity continue to evolve. The lawsuit and the executive order together mark a significant moment in the broader discussion about the intersection of sports, law, and gender identity in the US. Here’s how Trump’s policy is reshaping the conversation—and why many see it as a necessary course correction.
Scope of the Policy
The federal directive necessitates that all government-issued documents, including passports, school records, reflect only binary gender categories. This move reverses policies enacted in 2022 that allowed for a third gender marker (“X”), a vital recognition for nonbinary and intersex individuals.
This step cannot be dictated as a bureaucratic move, but an ideological conflict with reality. It pushes transgender students into a labyrinth, where their records fail to align with their identity. The policy is deemed to have massive implications across educational institutions, making it more difficult for students to navigate school life.
Transgender students’ rights in jeopardy
While for administration rolling out an order is perwork, for transgender students it is blotting their identities. The elimination of legal recognition has tangible effects on daily school experiences, exacerbating an already challenging environment.
Misgendering on school records
Long have transgender students and activists battled to have their gender identities rightly reflected in school records, an effort that is now taking a U-turn. With the federal government reverting to binary classifications, these students are compelled to be misgendered in official documentation, further exposing them to scrutiny and undermining their sense of self.
A rise in bullying and harassment
Schools are already grappling to incorporate inclusivity in the classrooms. This seismic policy comes as a license to drift away safeguards for transgender students. Lacking systemic support, there are high chances that transgender students are subject to bullying and harassment, further isolating them.
Restricted access to facilities and sports
Stripping off the basic rights: This is what this executive order can mean for transgender students. Trump’s policy to embolden schools to reinforce exclusionary practices is pushing transgender students into niches that do not match with their identities. Similarly, participation in gender-segregated sports could become another battleground, denying transgender students the opportunity to compete on teams that reflect their gender identity.
Greater risks in college admissions and scholarships
Transgender students already encounter an array of difficulties. Now, with a mandatory binary classification of gender, transgender students can face difficulties in college admissions due to mismatched gender markers on official records. Scholarships specially designed for LGBTQ+ students might also be jeopardized if the government no longer acknowledges nonbinary or transgender identities.
Furthermore, the FAFSA form will also acknowledge only two gender policies complying with Trump’s broader policy initiatives posing challenges for transgender students to avail scholarships.
Mental health concerns
The psychological toll of this policy shift cannot be overstated. Transgender youth already experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide compared to their cisgender peers. Stripping away affirming policies will only exacerbate these disparities, fostering an environment where students feel unseen, unsafe, and unsupported.
A step backward
A nation once considered synonymous with a trailblazer in progressive efforts is now deemed to take a step backward on the same course. Trump’s gender policy places the United States at odds with much of the international community. Countries such as Canada, Germany, and New Zealand have legally recognized nonbinary identities, embracing the spectrum of human gender expression. For international students, charting paths to the land of opportunities may find themselves in difficulty. These rigid gender definitions could create additional hurdles, from travel restrictions to academic limitations.
