“Harvard Athletics Scraps Transgender Inclusion Policy Amid Trump Administration’s Ban on Trans Women in Women’s Sports” | Latest Updates from The Harvard Crimson

Harvard Athletics recently took down its Transgender Inclusion Policy from its website. This change comes after a new executive order from President Trump, which restricts transgender women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at the school and collegiate levels.

Before the removal, the policy emphasized Harvard’s goal to create a welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. However, as of Wednesday, this policy is no longer visible on their site. Yet, Harvard’s other policies on equity and diversity still protect students and staff from discrimination based on sex, including gender identity and sexual orientation.

The executive order, known as “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” allows federal agencies to reinterpret Title IX to define “sex” based on the sex assigned at birth. This means that transgender women could be barred from competing in women’s sports. Schools that disregard these rules face funding cuts.

This order surfaced shortly after three former athletes from the University of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against multiple institutions, including Harvard. They claimed that allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in the women’s category violated Title IX regulations.

Currently, Harvard follows NCAA guidelines concerning transgender athlete participation. The NCAA’s policy permits athletes to compete on women’s teams as long as their testosterone levels remain within specified limits.

NCAA President Charlie Baker stated that Trump’s order sets a clear national standard. The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the new order and will update its policies as needed, aiming to support any affected student-athletes.

This executive order marks the latest in a series of measures aimed at restricting transgender rights. Trump referred to the ban as “common sense” while signing it, coinciding with National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Earlier, he had issued orders to eliminate policies that advocate for gender ideology, reverting Title IX protections to standards set during his first term, which had lessened protections for transgender students.

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