Nevada bans trans athletes in women’s sports
The Nevada Interstate Activities Association (NIAA) voted Tuesday to adopt a new gender eligibility policy that bans trans athletes from women’s sports. Currently, only biological women can compete in the state girl category.
Stavros Anthony of Li, across Nevada, praised the decision in a statement.
“I praise the NIAA for taking this important and brave step,” said Li during Stavros Anthony. “Today’s vote sends a clear message. Nevada values protect the values of female athletes. Girls deserve a level playing field. This action will help ensure competition, growth and success without compromising safety or fairness.”
The change marks a reversal from the state’s previous policies that allowed trans-athletes to compete in the sport of girls and women, resulting in multiple controversial cases in which it has been happening in recent years.
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State legislature exterior. Scenes around the Nevada State Capitol. (Lightrocket via Ty O’Neil/SOPA Images/Getty Images)
The state’s constitution was revised in 2022, with Democrats voting to adopt an equal rights amendment, adding gender identity to the list of diversity categories protected under state law.
The law prompted a nationally public feud between the University of Nevada, Reno and its female volleyball players in October.
The player personally approached the university administrators and expressed his desire to confiscate the game against San Jose State and became a trans athlete. However, the university does not respect that demand and instead A statement has been issued I insist that it will play the game. Nevada also claimed that players will be allowed to skip the contest without facing discipline.
GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown speaks to Sia Liilii. (Sam Brown Campaign)
The team was ultimately confiscated the day before the match was scheduled to be played because there were not enough players. However, the university says it has discussed with players about potential “legal issues” that will appear if the match is not played.
“The university administrators met with the Nevada volleyball team and discussed scenarios about what would happen if they chose not to play.
The conflict between players escalated into a national debate that attracted mainstream political attention in the weeks leading up to the November election.
Meanwhile, at the youth level, 13-year-old Ava Chavez, a middle school girl from Nevada, spoke about her experiences of having to play against a trans athlete in a letter she handed over to state lawmakers last week.
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Nevada Wolf Pack female volleyball players, Sam Brown and Tarcigabad. (Sam Brown Campaign)
“When the ball is on the other side of the net, they have the opportunity to swing and we have the opportunity to block, which is dangerous for us, because if the blocker can’t block a boy’s hit, I can be dangerously hurt.
Another girl, 17-year-old Kendall Lewis, also experienced the experience of having to play against a trans volleyball player due to state policy, she told Fox News Digital earlier in an interview.
Now, Nevada has joined 26 other states that ban trans athletes from competing in women’s sports, and is the latest to follow President Donald Trump’s executive order to address the issue.
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