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Women’s sports advocate praises the change, saying, ‘In the realm of athletics, biological sex differences matter’

President Donald Trump’s executive order protecting women’s sports has been met with support from a leading women’s advocacy group, while several universities at the center of the transgender athletics controversy have not responded to The College Fix’s inquiries about it.

The order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” clarifies Title IX to state that a person’s sex is determined at birth based on reproductive biology. Any school that allows male athletes to compete in women’s sports is at risk of losing federal funding.

Beth Parlato, senior legal advisor for the Independent Women’s Forum, told The College Fix that her organization “is thrilled with the President’s EO keeping men out of women’s sports.” The national organization works to advance policies that increase freedom and opportunities for women.

“In the realm of athletics, biological sex differences matter, and it is vital to the protection of women to maintain single-sex athletic teams,” she said in a recent email interview. “Men have been self-identifying into women’s athletics, stealing roster spots, resources, scholarships, titles, trophies, playing time and opportunities from women.”

However, several universities at the center of the women’s sports debate have not responded to The Fix’s repeated requests for comment on how they are handling the order and a subsequent policy change by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

San Jose State University’s media relations office declined to comment when contacted by The Fix via email, citing a federal investigation and other legal issues.

The California university is facing a federal investigation for alleged Title IX violations due to allowing a male player on its women’s volleyball team last year. Several female athletes also sued the university, The Fix reported.

The University of Pennsylvania also is being investigated by the federal government for alleged Title IX violations. Its athletics media office did not respond to several requests for comment from The Fix over the past few weeks.

Back in 2022, attention to the issue of transgender athletes grew following the national success of former UPenn swimmer William “Lia” Thomas, a male who competed in on the women’s team. He won the 500 yard freestyle at the NCAA championships becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division 1 title.

The NCAA is facing a lawsuit filed by 16 female student athletes who have competed against Thomas and other transgender athletes in a variety of sports.

The athletes allege it is unfair for women to compete against male athletes who identify as women due to inherent biological differences, costing them titles and records.

Another accusation in the lawsuit is that the plaintiffs had their privacy violated by sharing changing and showering spaces with biological males. North Carolina State University swimmer Kylee Alons said she changed in a storage closet at the 2022 NCAA finals because she was uncomfortable sharing a locker room with Thomas.

Other schools that have faced criticism for allowing male athletes to compete on their women’s teams include Franklin Pierce, George Washington, and the University of Michigan.

None of these universities’ athletics media relations offices responded to The Fix‘s requests for comments over the past several weeks asking about Trump’s executive order, the NCAA policy, and any changes they have made in their athletics programs as a result.

Meanwhile, Parlato at the Independent Women’s Forum said she has seen the negative effects women have faced in sports due to allowing transgender athletes to compete.

Parlato told The Fix she recognizes the importance of having equal access to opportunities for everyone. But the new policy is not about discrimination or limiting people’s freedom, she said.

“Male athletes who identify as female are not prohibited from participating in athletics. They are able to compete in the male division,” she told The Fix.

While Trump’s executive order has received praise, a number of women’s sports advocates have voiced concerns about the NCAA policy, arguing that it is not enough.

The policy on “transgender student athlete participation” states that biological male athletes can no longer compete on college women’s sports teams, even if they identify as female.

However, if an athlete has begun hormone therapy, they may practice with the women’s team. The policy also allows biological women who identify as men to practice and compete on male sport teams, The Fix reported previously.

Jennifer Sey, the founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, a clothing brand that supports women’s sport and single-sex spaces, recently released a video capturing female athletes’ responses to the policy.

We see you, NCAA.

We see you, @CharlieBakerMA. @NCAA Women’s Teams are for female athletes ONLY.

XX only. No substitutes.

Fix your policy. pic.twitter.com/xPf5ccQb7r

— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) February 26, 2025

In the video, female athletes including Riley Gaines say the NCAA policy change leaves an array of problems unsolved. For example, the policy does not mention anything about biological males who identify as female staying out of women’s locker rooms.

Another concern they raised is that the policy requires a birth certificate as proof; meanwhile, in 44 states, a person can legally change their birth certificate to say female.

MORE: UMaine loses, regains nearly $30 million in USDA funds over Title IX investigation

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Buttons lay on a table at a rally for women’s sports hosted by the Independent Women’s Forum. The College Fix

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