Texas is taking legal action against the NCAA, the largest college sports governing body in the US, for allegedly allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. The state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, is seeking an injunction to screen the sex of student athletes or stop the use of gender-specific terms in marketing women’s sports teams.
The lawsuit comes amid increased scrutiny of women student-athletes for their physical characteristics, leading to false accusations and harassment. The NCAA recently announced that only cisgender women can compete in women’s sports, but Texas argues that the organization’s policy is not in line with President Trump’s executive order banning transgender girls from girls’ teams.
The lawsuit suggests screenings for the SRY gene, found on the Y chromosome, to determine sex. However, experts say genetic variations make it difficult to definitively categorize sex based on chromosomes. Sex eligibility tests have a history of being invasive and discriminatory, violating privacy and dignity rights.
The lawsuit follows a previous legal action against the NCAA for mixed-gender competitions. Critics argue that restrictions based on biological sex can harm intersex students and violate their rights. Supporters of transgender rights in sports say such policies create unnecessary barriers and stigma. The debate reflects broader societal challenges around gender identity and inclusion in sports.
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