This week, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) rolled out a new policy that effectively bans transgender women from competing in women’s sports. And it sounds like religious beliefs played a role in the organization’s decision to ban transgender athletes from competition.
The NAIA Council of Presidents approved the new policy on transgender athletes in a 20-0 vote, and the vast majority of the schools that voted in favor of banning transgender athletes were Christian institutions. NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr said in an interview with The Associated Press that 190 of the 241 NAIA schools governed by the organization are private institutions, and about 125 of those have religious affiliations of varying degrees.
Of the 20 presidents who voted to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, 17 were from schools affiliated with Christian denominations. Carr acknowledged that he believes these religious beliefs “had some impact.”
“People have certain views of the world, and even though I believe all our Council of Presidents members are trying to think what’s best for the NAIA, they certainly come to these kinds of issues with their own beliefs and the missions of their institutions in mind,” Carr said. “I would think that had some impact.”
[ESPN]
