Trans Athletes and Title IX

Episode Description

The Biden Administration has proposed a change to Title IX that would prohibit schools from categorically banning trans students from sports teams that align with their identity. But many advocates have criticized the new rule, pointing out that schools would still have leeway to discriminate based on exceptions around competitive advantage and risk of injury.

In this episode, Imara unpacks the pros and cons of this new rule. She speaks with Andy Marra, the Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), about the proposal’s potential impacts on trans student athletes. Imara also chats with Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN, about their public comment campaign urging revisions to the rule and the need for more clarity on its anti-discrimination protections.