Virginia Governor Under Fire for Ending Girls' Sports Protections
Critics accuse Gov. Abigail Spanberger's administration of quietly dismantling a rulemaking process initiated by the previous administration to restrict transgender girls from competing in female sports.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's administration has ended a rulemaking process aimed at ensuring school sports are divided by sex, sparking outrage among critics, including parents of athletes. The decision to halt the protections for scholastic sports based on sex marks a significant shift from the policies initiated under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Critics argue that the move, which was made in late July but only recently came to light without a public announcement, jeopardizes the privacy, safety, and competitive opportunities for female athletes. Former Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, expressed her anger, stating that the governor had an opportunity to support women and girls but instead abandoned them. Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, characterized the action as typical of Spanberger, suggesting a pattern of contradictory actions and a lack of transparency.
Former Ball State basketball player and Indiana state Rep. Michelle Davis echoed these sentiments, asserting that the decision moves Virginia backward. "Women's sports exist for women, and protecting a fair playing field shouldn’t be controversial," Davis said. "Democrats talk constantly about empowering women, yet we continue to see Democratic leaders roll back protections for female athletes. Virginia’s girls deserve better."
Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration began the process of barring biological males from girls' scholastic sports. This rulemaking, however, was expected to take years and has now been terminated by Spanberger's successor, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Virginia Health Commissioner Cameron Webb confirmed to the Richmond Times-Dispatch that his agency and the governor’s office did not proceed with the proposed regulation.
The regulation, which had received support from the Virginia Board of Health during the Youngkin administration, would have prevented biological males from participating in organized female-only athletic teams and competitions. It also aimed to prevent biological males from using designated female spaces where females might be in a state of undress.
Sources indicate that the chairwoman of the State Board of Health, appointed by Youngkin, was unaware the process was being ended. "Our hearts go out to everybody involved, the athletes on all sides of it," the chairwoman told the Times-Dispatch.
Williams further commented that this situation exemplifies how Democrats are, in his view, discriminating against female athletes, as several states continue to grapple with similar issues regarding transgender students in athletics. Fox News Digital has reached out to Spanberger and a representative for Youngkin for comment.