Transgender athlete supporters to launch lawsuits over Trump executive order
Transgender athlete supporters to launch lawsuits over Trump executive order
On a day celebrating girls and women in sports across the nation. President Trump made goon on another campaign promise that Targets transgender women. In a White House ceremony, Trump signed his latest executive order, which many say curtails the rights of transgender athletes.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - On National Girls & Women in Sports Day, President Donald Trump made good on a campaign promise that critics charged targets transgender women.
In a White House ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Trump, surrounded by female athletes and children, signed an executive order banning trans women (women whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth) from participating in women's sports.
"We are restoring sanity and common sense to our government, very simply. We're defending the rights and safety and pride of the American people, including our great, great, great female athletes," Trump said to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. "My administration will not stand by and let men beat and batter our female athletes. We're just not gonna let it happen, and it's gonna end, and it's ending right now."
Supporters have said such a move safeguards women's sporting competitions and their outcomes.
"Yet another executive order that is going to be challenged legally because it is not lawful," said Prof. Margaret Russell, a constitutional law expert at Santa Clara University.
She said Trump's latest executive order violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
"People are going to be injured, transgender athletes, by being essentially erased from society when that is a reality that I think the Trump administration does not want to accept," said Russell.
Opponents pointed to the uproar over outed trans athletes, such as a San Jose State volleyball player. A fellow teammate filed a lawsuit after learning the red-shirt freshman allegedly wasn't a biological woman, a fact she has said the school concealed.
"We're talking about a handful of athletes among thousands and thousands of women in sport. So it's like a big foot on a tiny ant," said Gabrielle Antolovich, board president of the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center in San Jose.
In response to the Trump signing, San Jose State University leaders released a statement which reads, "San Jose State maintains an unwavering commitment to the wellness, safety and privacy of our students, faculty and staff and to fostering a supportive and caring environment for all."
The president and his supporters felt confident after the signing, taking pictures and clapping as Trump handed out presidential pens to the crowd.
"Everything I've said will go into effect immediately, okay?," he said.
Experts said lawsuits are already ready and will be filed in a federal district court in the near future challenging the president's authority in this latest tussle between the people and the government of the people.
Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on the Instagram platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU
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