NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Keeping transwomen out of women’s sports is the latest executive order sparking questions across the country. So how will it impact New Mexicans? New Mexico advocates said it isn’t about protecting young girls or women, it’s about attacking transgender kids.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes in women’s sports. “From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” said President Donald Trump.
According to testimony from the NCAA president last year, there are less than ten transgender athletes in college sports.
In response to the order, the New Mexico advocacy group, Equality NM, has a message for trans athletes, “Lots of people in New Mexico are fighting for you. We see you. You exist. You matter. And this White House can’t take that away. This White House will not erase the existence of trans and non-binary people no matter how many executive orders they sign.”
The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women Sports”, promises to rescind funds from programs that “deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”
But Marshall Martinez with Equality NM said, “We believe that an executive order that prohibits schools from allowing trans athletes to play sports is in violation of New Mexico state law.”
Other groups, like the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico, are also responding – saying, “We look forward to continuing to affirm, empower and uplift transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people and their loved ones throughout New Mexico.”
The order opposes their participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of “safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.”
“Right now, we don’t know what the impact will be for New Mexicans who are trans or nonbinary and playing sports,” said Martinez.
The New Mexico Activities Association said in a statement, “Currently, NMAA bylaws state a student must compete in the gender listed on their original or amended birth certificate.”
According to New Mexico law, people are allowed to change their birth certificates to align with their gender identity.