Nevada Enforces Birth-Sex Rule for School Sports After Policy Reversal

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's new policy aligns with a federal directive, ending transgender athletes' participation in sports based on gender identity.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) has implemented a policy requiring student-athletes to compete based on the sex listed on their unaltered original birth certificate.
This decision reverses a 2014 policy that allowed transgender athletes to compete in alignment with their gender identity.
The policy follows President Donald Trump's February 2025 executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports, tying compliance to federal funding.
Critics, including the ACLU of Nevada, argue the policy may violate the state's 2022 Equal Rights Amendment, which protects against discrimination based on gender identity.
Supporters, such as Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony, praise the move as a step toward ensuring fairness and safety in women's sports.