Biden sparks outrage with divisive executive order on gender identity

So much for unity! Biden sparks outrage after signing divisive executive order pushing schools to include transgender athletes in girls’ sports – causing critics to declare that the new president is ‘erasing women’

  • Biden signed an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation hours after taking office 
  • Many claim that the order will now make it compulsory for schools to allow transgender female students to compete in girls’ sports 
  • The order was slammed by some critics who say it will disadvantage cis girls; they accused Biden of ‘erasing women’ and imposing ‘a new glass ceiling’
  • But many LGBT rights activists hailed the executive order, arguing that Biden is making good on his promise to create a more unified and inclusive country
  • The decision to allow transgender athletes to compete in sports alongside their cisgender peers has caused controversy in recent years 
  • In March 2020, Idaho became the nation’s first to prohibit transgender students who identify as female from playing on female teams at public schools
  • Currently, 16 states ‘have friendly policies that help facilitate full inclusion of trans and non-binary students in high school athletics’
  • The Trump administration was opposed to the inclusion of transgender female athletes in girls’ sports and threatened to pull funding

President Biden has used his first days in office to announce an anti-discrimination executive order that some believe will force schools to include transgender athletes in girls’ sports. 

The order, titled Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, was signed just hours after the new POTUS assumed office on Wednesday evening. 

It states that ‘Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.’

The order adds: ‘It is the policy of my administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation’. 

Biden claims that such anti-discrimination policies are ‘enshrined in the nation’s anti-discrimination laws’, and align with a Supreme Court ruling from 2020 that prohibits ‘discrimination on the basis of someone’s gender identity’. 

There is now speculation that public schools will have funding pulled if they do not allow transgender female athletes to compete in girls’ sports. 

Biden’s order is already dividing activists on the internet. While it has been cheered by proponents of transgender rights, others say the order could unintentionally discriminate against cis females. 

Journalist Abigail Shrier wrote on Twitter: ‘On day 1, Biden unilaterally eviscerates women’s sports. Any educational institution that receives federal funding must admit biologically-male athletes to women’s teams, women’s scholarships, etc. A new glass ceiling was just placed over girls.’

Joe Biden has waded into the culture wars by signing an executive order that many believe will force schools to include transgender athletes in girls’ sports. He is pictured signing the order in the Oval Office on Wednesday 

Bloomfield High School transgender athlete Terry Miller, second from left, wins the final of the 55-meter dash over other runners ata Connecticut girls’ track meet in February 2019

Erielle Davidson of The Jewish Institute for National Security of America, wrote: ‘Sad day for women’s sports. Women must compete against biological males at the risk of injury and loss of title, thanks to a new Biden executive order. Don’t ever tell me this is ‘pro-woman.’ It’s not. It’s destructive and malicious.’  

Soon after, the hashtag #BidenErasedWomen began trending on Twitter. 

However, LGBT activists hit back, saying the order was simply Biden’s attempt at moving towards a more inclusive society – just as he pledged to do in his inaugural address. 

‘I see #BidenErasedWomen trending so seems like a good time to remind everyone that trans people have been around in every recorded culture. Biden has simply said that he’s not going to allow people like me to be discriminated against for using female toilets, as we’ve always done,’ transgender writer Paris Lees posted. 

Others claimed that criticism of Biden’s order was ‘transphobic’, and slammed the objectors as ‘trans-exclusionary radical feminists’ (otherwise known as ‘TERFs’).  

The decision to allow transgender athletes to compete in sports alongside their cisgender peers has caused controversy in recent years. 

Last year, 17 states introduced bills to restrict athletes’ participation to sports of their gender assigned at birth – however, only Idaho, has passed a bill into law. 

Andraya Yearwood (pictured in 2019) is one of two transgender athlete who competed on a female track team at her Connecticut high school 

LGBT activists heralded the move saying it was Biden’s attempt at moving towards a more inclusive society – just as he pledged to do in his inaugural address

 Last March, the law signed in Idaho became the nation’s first to prohibit transgender students who identify as female from playing on female teams sponsored by public schools, colleges and universities.

 The law was supported by President Donald Trump’s administration. 

‘Allowing males to enter our sports isn’t fair,’ one cross-country runner at Idaho State told the Associated Press. 

‘It changes everything because it eliminates the connection between an athlete’s effort and her success. Idaho’s law helps make sure that, when women like me work hard, that hard work pays off, and we have a shot at winning.’ 

According to Transathlete, there are 16 states that’ have friendly policies that help facilitate full inclusion of trans/non-binary/GNC (gender non-conforming) students in high school athletics.’ 

The include California, Oregon, Washington state, Minnesota, New York and Connecticut.  

Last year, the Trump administration attempted to intervene in Connecticut, threatening to pull funding from three school districts if they did not cut ties with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’.

The Conference’s policy caused controversy for allowing transgender athletes to compete in their girls’ track meets. 

The Trump administration claimed the policy violated  Title IX –  a 1972 federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in programs that receive funding from the federal government. 

However, transgender Connecticut track star Andraya Yearwood has disagreed. 

‘Running has been so important for my identity, my growth as a person, and my ability to survive in a world that discriminates against me,’ she stated last year. 

‘I am thankful that I live in Connecticut where I can be treated as a girl in all aspects of life and not face discrimination at school.’  

According to Transathlete, there are 16 states that’ have friendly policies that help facilitate full inclusion of trans/non-binary/GNC (gender non-conforming) students in high school athletics’. Trans rightd activists are pictured outside the White House 

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