Trans inclusion in women's sports becomes hotter topic in 2023

Enes Freedom talked about Riley Gaines’ impact as a major voice in women’s sports and called her an inspiration.

Transgender athletes competing in women’s and girls’ sports became an even hotter issue in 2023, coming off a year when Lia Thomas won an NCAA Championship in women’s swimming.

Debate raged online and beyond about whether it was fair to allow transgender females to compete against athletes of the same gender they identify as. Whether it was in high school, college or the pros, the discourse was fervent.

The controversy was far from over this year.

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The Biden administration rolled out the new Title IX regulations in April. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

In April, the Biden administration rolled out new Title IX regulations to expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity that would prevent schools and colleges from banning transgender athletes.

Under the department’s proposed rule, no school or college that receives federal funding would be allowed to impose a "one-size-fits-all" policy that categorically bans transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Such policies would be considered a violation of Title IX.

The proposal garnered pushback from more than two dozen groups at the time. A letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona organized by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies, a diverse coalition of lawyers, subject-matter experts, parents, civil rights groups and former education officials, said the Biden administration's additional anticipated regulations will "unfairly" penalize female athletes.

A general view as athletes compete in the Women's 10000