Governor issues executive order to protect women’s sports

Governor Brad Little of Idaho signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at safeguarding “fairness in women’s sports” in the state’s public schools. The order directs the State Board of Education to ensure that Idaho female students are provided equal opportunity in sports, in response to concerns about transgender women competing in female sports. Little emphasized the physical advantages that biological males have over females in athletics.
The executive order comes after Idaho lawmakers passed a bill defining “sex” as an individual’s biological sex and equating “gender” to that definition. This move was celebrated by advocates for maintaining single-sex spaces in sports. Idaho had previously enacted a ban on transgender women competing in female public school sports, although this law was blocked by federal courts.
Governor Little’s order aligns with the state’s stance against the Biden administration’s proposed expansion of Title IX to include protections for transgender students. The order does not mention specific state laws related to fairness in women’s sports but emphasizes adherence to the original Title IX rules.
Former competitive swimmer and activist Riley Gaines, known for protesting transgender athlete Lia Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming, praised the governor’s action. Gaines commended Idaho for standing against federal changes that she believes threaten fairness and safety in women’s sports.
State education officials expressed their commitment to working with local schools to ensure compliance with the executive order and relevant laws. They will also provide updates on ongoing litigation surrounding the issue.

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