Trans Athletes Are Protected Under Law—Here’s What You Need to Know

On February 5, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order (EO) attempting to ban transgender athletes from sports. Let’s be clear: this is a cruel, baseless attack designed to fuel fear and division—not a policy rooted in fairness or facts. And in Minnesota, it’s also illegal.

We know this news is painful. It’s meant to make trans people feel isolated and erased. But we want you to know: you are not alone, and this fight is far from over.

What This Executive Order Means—And What It Doesn’t

Let’s get one thing clear from the jump: trans athletes have been participating in sports for decades. Inclusion has long been the norm in Minnesota, guided by thoughtful, evidence-based policies that ensure fairness for all athletes. The only thing that’s changed is the rise of a well-funded campaign using trans athletes as a wedge issue.

Now, let’s talk about what this order doesn’t do. It does not change Minnesota law. The Minnesota Human Rights Act explicitly protects transgender people from discrimination in all aspects of public life, including in sports. No executive order can override that.

Trump also can’t rewrite federal law with EOs. Title IX is a federal law that protects against sex discrimination in schools, including in sports. The Trump administration can’t erase those protections with the stroke of a pen. Executive orders are not laws—they’re instructions to federal agencies. Just like his past attempts to roll back civil rights, this order is illegal and will be met with lawsuits and injunctions.

But make no mistake—this EO is harmful, especially to kids. This executive order is a deliberate attempt to strong-arm schools into violating state law. By threatening federal funding, it pressures schools to discriminate against trans athletes—even though doing so would be illegal under Minnesota law. And for young athletes, it sends a cruel message: that their right to play, to be part of a team, to belong, is up for debate.

How We’re Fighting Back

We are already in court fighting for trans athletes’ rights. Our Cooper v. USA Powerlifting case, now awaiting a ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court, challenges blatant discrimination against a transgender athlete who was unfairly banned from competition. While this executive order does not affect independent entities, like USA Powerlifting, the case is a reminder that there’s still so much work to do to make sports the inclusive space it’s meant to be.

We’ve also successfully fought in cases like N.H. v. Anoka-Hennepin School District, where we affirmed that Minnesota schools cannot segregate transgender students from their peers – and this applies to sports. If this federal ban is enforced in Title IX-funded programs, we’ll be ready to challenge it in court.

To Our Community

To every trans and nonbinary athlete, every young person wondering if they still belong in sports, every coach and teammate who wants to stand up for inclusion—we see you. We are in this fight together.

Trans people have always been part of sports, and no executive order will change that. We will continue to fight, in the courts and in our communities, to make sure you have the right to play, compete, and thrive.

Make Your Voice Heard

We’re building a powerful coalition of athletes, coaches, and everyday Minnesotans who believe in inclusion in sports. By adding your name, you’re showing that trans athletes belong—on the field, on the court, in the game.

Discrimination thrives when people stay silent. Now is the time to speak up. Sign on to show your support for trans athletes and send a clear message: Minnesota stands for inclusion.

Sign On to Support Trans Inclusion in Sports

This is not the end. Not even close.

Stay with us. Stay in the game.