27 States. One Executive Order. 24 Hours.
27 states now ban transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity, covering an estimated 40% of all transgender youth aged 13-17. In 2020, only Idaho had such a ban.
27 states with trans sports bans. 40% of trans youth affected. NCAA reversed its policy in 24 hours. IOC adopted genetic screening for LA 2028. In 2020, one state had a ban.
In February 2025, the NCAA changed its policy within 24 hours of Trump’s Executive Order 14201, limiting women’s sports competition to athletes assigned female at birth. USA Rugby followed in February 2026. USA Hockey adopted birth-sex-only eligibility in November 2025.
The IOC Went Further
On March 26, 2026, the IOC adopted a “Protection of the Female Category” policy for the LA 2028 Olympics, requiring a one-time SRY gene screening. Athletes who test negative get lifetime eligibility. The scientist who discovered the SRY gene, Andrew Sinclair, has publicly opposed using it for this purpose, noting it is more likely to exclude intersex women assigned female at birth than to identify transgender athletes.
Chris Mosier, the first transgender athlete to compete in an Olympic trials event, noted that there are more bans than there are transgender athletes competing. The legislative energy is disproportionate to the number of people affected.
What You Can Do
- Contact your state legislators and oppose bills that ban transgender students from school sports. Use the letter and call script below.
- Read the LGBTQ Rights hub for the broader pattern of anti-trans legislation.
- Support Athlete Ally and Outsports for athlete-centered coverage.