Transgender Athletes in Minnesota Still Allowed in Girl’s Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota's governing body for high school sports says it will follow state law — not President Donald Trump's executive order — and continue to allow transgender athletes to compete in prep athletics.

Associations in some other states signaled they also may defy the president's order, but others were taking a wait-and-see approach.

The Minnesota organization said in an email to member schools Thursday that participation by and eligibility of transgender athletes is controlled by the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which contains protections for LGBTQ+ people, and the state constitution.

“The Minnesota State High School League, similar to other youth sports organizations, is subject to state anti-discrimination laws, which prohibit discrimination based on gender identity," the message said. "Therefore, students in Minnesota are allowed to participate consistent with their gender identity.”

Trump signed the order on Wednesday, giving the federal government wide latitude to pull federal funding from entities that “deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities” by allowing transgender athletes to participate. Legal challenges are expected.

In response to Trump's order, the NCAA revised its transgender participation policy to limit women’s college sports to athletes assigned as female at birth. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a governing body for smaller schools, effectively banned transgender athletes in 2023 from women’s sports.