Two transgender girls from New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order, signed on February 5, 2025, bans transgender girls and women from participating in female-designated sports at U.S. schools and universities, threatening to cut federal funding to institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
The plaintiffs, represented by GLAD Law and the ACLU of New Hampshire, argue that the executive order is discriminatory and violates their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as well as Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The lawsuit contends that the order’s strict biological definition of sex fails to account for gender identity, unlawfully excluding transgender athletes from competing in accordance with their identity.
The lawsuit underscores a broader national debate over transgender inclusion in athletics, with civil rights groups and LGBTQ+ advocates condemning the order as a direct attack on transgender youth. Opponents argue that banning transgender girls from sports perpetuates discrimination, while supporters claim the order is necessary to protect fairness in women’s athletics.
