Female athletes excluded from White House event after criticizing new NCAA policy on transgender participation
Several female athletes standing next to President Trump three weeks ago celebrate Executive Order Bans Transgender Persons from Participating in Women’s Sports Sources told CBS News that women’s sports briefings were not invited to attend White House events Thursday after criticizing the National College Athletic Association’s new policies.
Among those who were not asked to ask for a briefing on Title IX questions is former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines. Sia Liilii, captain of the University of Nevada women’s volleyball team; Kaitynn Wheeler, a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Kentucky.
Some athletes publicly criticized the NCAA in social media posts and other public statements, in public conflict with the White House’s preferred messaging.
“This is definitely not a victory, we need to ask for better,” Wheeler told CBS News.
White House officials told CBS that Thursday’s IX event was targeted at the state attorney general and was intended to encourage them to use sexist authorities that already exist in the state to protect women and girls in track and field.
They said they invited sports figures who have not yet emphasized the story. Some athletes in Maine said Democratic governors said they would fight Mr. Trump’s orders in court, an official said.
Mr. Trump earlier this month New policy Say “Student athletes assigned to men at birth may not compete for the NCAA women’s team.”
White House officials said they view NCAA policy as a win for Mr. Trump because the organization does not accept revised birth certificates and is more aggressive than other sports organizations such as the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the National College Intercollege Athletic Association and the International Football League.
However, some female athletes and advocates with Mr. Trump have argued on photography opportunities that the NCAA policy has significant loopholes and continues to allow male athletes to participate in women’s sports.
Payton McNabb, a 17-year-old who was injured in a collision with a trans female athlete during a volleyball game, was initially invited to attend Thursday’s event, but it’s unclear whether she will be there. They said Liliy was invited and later asked not to come.
Jennifer Sey, a former gymnast and business executive who has been advocating for keeping transgender women away from women’s sports, says the sports governance landscape is complex – multiple bodies control various sports. Olympics and independent events, such as the Boston Marathon, can claim they do not receive federal funds because they do not receive executive orders, she said.
“It’s very broken – EO can’t solve the whole problem. It’s a great first step,” Sey said. “But at the same time, I think the NCAA policy is very insufficient.”
Sey was invited to attend the White House for executive orders but there was no Thursday’s briefing, and she said she and others hope Mr. Trump would put pressure on the NCAA. “It should be thrown into the garbage,” she said.
Mr. Trump’s senior policy strategist May Mailman, who has been coordinating policies and activities, told CBS that the White House is closely following the NCAA and that it would be acceptable if men are allowed to participate in women’s sports.
“We are using every tool we have. We care about that,” Melman said. “We are working on getting state Ags to walk with us and I think they want to.”
