Various school districts and sports organizations in Colorado are weighing in on a recent executive order, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, issued by President Donald Trump in early February. 

The order has raised concerns and sparked discussions regarding the participation of transgender individuals in school athletics, particularly in women’s sports.

Keira, a representative from Team Trans, an international collective of trans and non-binary hockey players, expressed concerns over the executive order’s implications. (Keira requested to not include her last name due to safety concerns.)

“It’s a non-issue that not only lacks scientific support but is also so minuscule — consider that only 12 athletes in the NCAA identify as trans out of over 500,000,” Keira said. “The fact that this has become a major focus for this administration and the preceding election is not just a waste of time and effort, but also dangerous.”

The Colorado High School Activities Association has been a key organization involved in the conversation. In response to the executive order, a representative from CHSAA said the organization is aware of the order and is monitoring both state and federal statutes. 

In a Feb. 10 email to Littleton Public Schools obtained by Colorado Community Media from a Colorado Open Records Request, CHSAA updated school districts on the steps it’s taking. 

“The order aims to bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, creating a direct conflict between federal directives and existing Colorado state law,” documents state. “We recognize that this development places our member schools and CHSAA as a whole in a difficult position, as it raises legal and operational questions that are not yet fully answered. As always, when federal actions conflict with state law, our goal is to ensure clarity, compliance and support for our membership as we navigate this complex landscape.” 

CHSAA goes on to state that it’s still trying to determine answers to questions regarding the impact and the legality of the order.

“While questions have been raised regarding the intersection of this order with Title IX and Colorado state law, we will do our best to find answers to those questions and to provide appropriate guidance,” CHSAA said. “As the legal landscape continues to evolve, we will remain engaged and provide updates as new information emerges.”

Additionally, CHSAA clarified that Colorado state law remains in effect and protects people from “discrimination and harassment in schools based on disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family composition, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry.” 

“CHSAA is committed to understanding the potential implications of these new federal directives, and we will share more information with you as it becomes available,” the organization said. 

Many school districts – including Englewood Schools, Jefferson County Public Schools and Westminster Public Schools – have said they will follow CHSAA’s lead. 

Westminster Public Schools has an enrollment of 7,661 students and district spokesman Steve Saunders confirmed that, as of now, CHSAA’s policies regarding transgender athletes remain unchanged. 

Jefferson County Public Schools said it will continue to follow all Colorado state laws when it comes to how the district treats students, staff and families.

“Physical education, intramural and interscholastic activities are managed in accordance with district policy regulation, which includes the CHSAA’s Transgender Inclusion Bylaw & Policy,” the district said. “The policy states, ‘students should be permitted to participate in physical education classes and intramural sports in a manner consistent with their gender identity. With regard to interscholastic activities, the district will follow the CHSAA Transgender Policy Statement.’ 

South Suburban Parks and Recreation, which manages youth sports programs and doesn’t receive any federal funding, said it would not be making any changes to its policies. 

“Our goal at South Suburban is to provide safe and inclusive recreation opportunities for all members of our community,” said Becky Grubb, South Suburban communications manager. 

South Suburban also referenced its existing transgender and non-binary policy, and affirmed that no changes would be made in light of the new directive.

When asked how common it is for transgender women to participate in women’s sports at South Suburban, the organization replied that it does not track this information. 

Keira, from Team Trans, pointed out that the debate surrounding transgender athletes goes beyond the concerns of trans individuals, with cisgender women, particularly women of color, facing discrimination based on arbitrary expectations of their bodies. 

In 2022, a cisgender high school girl in Utah was investigated for being trangender after placing first in a state championship. Complaints from the parents of her competitors who came in second and third place prompted the investigation. 

Additionally, in 2023 a 9-year-old girl in Canada was accused by an adult man of being transgender while she was competing in a track meet. 

“This ‘debate’ has led to cisgender women and girls — especially those of color — being subjected to discrimination simply for being perceived as ‘too manly,’” Keira said. 

Keira said that many trans athletes view their participation in sports as vital to their well-being and mental health, and that no one is “pretending to be a woman” to succeed in athletics, but rather, to survive due to concerns for their safety.  

Keira also pointed out the potential harm the executive order could cause to trans youth, whose rights may be threatened as a result.

“Trans kids are watching their rights being actively taken away, and we risk losing them,” Keira said. “That is not OK. They deserve to grow up in a world where they feel safe, seen and supported — and it’s on all of us to ensure that happens.”

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