(NV) Law bars NSHE from taking action on transgender college athletes
Story by Joshua Peguero (24 April 2025)
The NCAA ruled in Feb. that competition in women's sports is restricted to student-athletes assigned female at birth. It's the guidance they issued following President Donald Trump's executive order on college sports and Title IX.
This topic has reached Nevada's college campuses with the Nevada System of Higher Education discussing it on Thursday.
"The state constitution that all regents take an oath to uphold contains an equality of rights provision," Lynda King, NSHE's associate general counsel, said. "I think that it's a wait-and-see approach at this time."
The Mountain West Conference also followed suit to resemble the NCAA's policy on transgender athletes. But Nevada's equal rights law has protections for transgender people.
"Until such time that we have federal law that preempts or overrides that state constitution, we are limited in our ability to advise you," King said.
"Trans-athletics in women's sports are not the problem. Sexual assault and abusers are," Jenna Atncio, a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, said.
Jessica Munger, a representative for Silver State Equality, criticized the efforts to limit transgender people.
"Time should be spent looking into more funding opportunities, hiring women coaches, offering clinics and events, acquiring new equipment, and increasing accessibility for women. Rather than restricting who gets to play," Munger said.
