Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
A trans athlete for the US Olympic team has spoken out about Donald Trump's controversial new executive order that affects transgender people in sport.
Since returning to office as US President last month, Trump has wasted no time in signing executive orders, signing more than 50 as of yesterday (6 February) - the most in a president's first 100 days in more than 40 years.
Many of these executive orders affect the transgender community.
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The Republican leader previously stated that there will 'only be two genders' under his government and earlier this week, he signed an executive order that directly affects trans athletes.
The 78-year-old, who is the first convicted felon to hold the presidential role, was filmed signing a document which bans transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports teams by denying federal funds to schools that allow it.
The ban read: "Many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports.
"This is demeaning, unfair and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports."
The policy states it will 'oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity and truth.'
Now, Chris Mosier - the US Olympic team's first trans athlete and advocate for transgender rights - has spoken out about the controversial order and reveals a surprising truth.
Mosier, who competes in the triathlon, duathlon and racewalking, posted a video to Instagram explaining the order's limitations.
"President Trump just signed an executive order... that seeks to weaponise Title IX to ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports," he said.
Title IX is a civil rights law, enacted in 1972, that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding.
"But the truth is Title 9 is law. It was passed by Congress. And executive orders cannot override law. Executive orders cannot change the law.
"Executive orders can direct federal agencies to create new rules and regulations and to enforce those rules and regulations through the agencies," he continued.
"So, while Trump's executive order can create fear and confusion in the hopes that people will proactively comply with what he said. It cannot actually change the law.
"That means trans, non-binary and intersex students are still protected under Title IX no matter what the President is trying to do with this discriminatory executive order."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]
Topics: US News, Politics, Donald Trump,
Bec Oakes