The NCAA, which regulates college athletics in the United States, supported transgender athletes April 12, saying it won't hold championship events in locations that aren't "free of discrimination," NBC News reported.
As Republicans in more than two dozen states target transgender athletes, the NCAA Board of Governors said it "firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports," according to the NCAA website.
The NCAA's statement also that the body "has a long-standing 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. Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport. Our clear expectation as the Association's top governing body is that all student-athletes will be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to ensuring that NCAA championships are open for all who earn the right to compete in them.
"When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected. We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants.
In a statement sent to Windy City Times, ACLU Deputy Director for Trans Justice Chase Strangio said, "State lawmakers around the country should pay attention: Discriminating against transgender students is wrong, against the law, and costly. If you continue to pass these misguided laws state taxpayers risk not only costly litigation but the loss of revenue from these tournaments."
