WIAA bans transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports competitions

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Transgender athletes are now banned from competing in female competitions in the state, after a new ruling from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).

This decision comes after the NCAA also recently adjusted their transgender participation policy and a signed executive order from President Donald Trump earlier this month, who told supporters, "From now on, women's sports will only be for women."

Stephanie Hauser, executive director of the WIAA, released the following statement on the vote by the organization's Board of Control with regard to eligibility:

"Today the WIAA Board of Control voted to update the organization's policy regarding student-athlete eligibility – affirming its compliance with federal directives that only students designated as females at birth will be allowed to participate in girls competitions.

Working in consultation with legal counsel, our Board updated this policy to ensure clarity is provided to our membership as they work to comply with new federal guidance from the White House.”

The WIAA policy also notes that transgender students may participate "and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice."

For some, like State Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, it's "a step in the right direction."

"I am elated," Rep. Dittrich told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. "These women deserve their rights to be preserved as they were intended in Title IX, and not to have this threat of losing to a biological male."

Rep. Dittrich, who has pursued sponsoring similar legislation over the past few years, said she's heard a multitude of concerns from constituents.

"There are still concerns about injuries that could occur practicing together, being in women's spaces like locker rooms and showers," Rep. Dittrich said. "Those females should not have to share locker room space or showers with a fully intact biological male. So, I'm sorry, but when your desire to be in those spaces is a threat and a trauma to someone else, then we've got to intervene."

However, others like Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, disagree with the ruling.

"I'm extremely disappointed that the WIAA decided to cave to pressure from the Trump administration," Sen. Spreitzer said. "I mean, clearly, the message the Trump administration is trying to send is trying to really erase the existence of trans people."

Spreitzer, who is also the chair for the state's LGBTQ+ caucus, said unlike Dittrich's previous comment, the policy shift is a step backwards.

"Instead, send the message that all kids belong, all kids are valued here in Wisconsin, and we want trans kids to be able to fully participate alongside their peers in all aspects of school, including athletics," Sen. Spreitzer said. "Trans kids, like any other kids, just want to belong, and playing sports at the K-12 level is really about belonging and teamwork."

When it comes to the concerns over the locker rooms, Spreitzer said all children, cisgender or transgender, should have privacy.

"That's not what this is about," Sen. Spreitzer said. "We are talking about teamwork and belonging, and that's what we should be focusing on here, and finding ways to make a space for all kids to participate alongside their peers, not categorically excluding certain groups of kids because of who they fundamentally are."

The WIAA declined an on-camera interview on Thursday, citing lack of availability from spokespeople.

When asked if the organization has received specific complaints about transgender athletes, or if they keep a database for the number of transgender athletes, a spokesperson sent this statement:

"Due to student privacy the WIAA wouldn’t share that information. However, I can share that the WIAA does not keep a database tracking athletes."

The U.S. Dept. of Education and Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, released a statement commending the WIAA for the policy change, which reads in full:

“We applaud these entities for recognizing President Trump’s leadership in protecting women and girls from biological male competitors, and for recognizing that this is the appropriate and correct understanding of Title IX. We expect other interscholastic athletic associations will follow suit immediately."