Indianapolis, Indiana – Governor Mike Braun has signed two executive orders aimed at preserving fairness in women’s sports and reinforcing Indiana’s legal definition of sex. These actions, announced ahead of International Women’s Day, align with the governor’s ongoing efforts to uphold traditional gender distinctions and ensure equal opportunities for female athletes.
Protecting Women’s Sports in Indiana
One of the newly signed orders, Executive Order 25-35, mandates that Indiana’s state educational institutions adhere to the 2020 Title IX Rule rather than the Biden Administration’s 2024 reinterpretation. The governor’s directive prevents biological males from competing in women’s college sports, which he argues is essential to maintaining the integrity of female athletic competition.
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“Women’s sports create opportunities for young women to earn scholarships and develop leadership skills. Hoosiers overwhelmingly don’t want those opportunities destroyed by allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, and today’s executive order will make sure of that,” said Governor Braun.
The governor’s stance reflects growing national debate over transgender participation in sports. Supporters argue that the order safeguards competitive fairness, while critics contend that it may discriminate against transgender athletes. Nevertheless, Braun insists that the measure is necessary to uphold the principles of women’s athletics.
Reinforcing Indiana’s Legal Definition of Sex
In addition to protecting women’s sports, Braun signed Executive Order 25-36, which reaffirms Indiana’s legal adherence to biological sex as opposed to gender identity. The order asserts that policies based on gender identity undermine biological reality and have serious implications for public institutions and legal frameworks.
“Replacing the scientific fact of biological sex with the always-changing, self-reported idea of ‘gender identity’ has real consequences: it puts women in danger in female-only spaces like prisons, it destroys opportunities for women in sports, and it tells troubled kids that their mental health problems can be solved with sterilizing drugs and irreversible sex change operations,” Braun stated. “Indiana will not go along with this radical new idea of what gender means, and we will not allow tax dollars to be used to promote this ideology — instead, we’re going to focus on providing Freedom and Opportunity for all Hoosiers.”
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The order emphasizes that Indiana state policies will not recognize gender identity as a replacement for biological sex. Braun’s administration argues that such measures are necessary to ensure public safety, maintain the integrity of women’s spaces, and prevent what they view as an erosion of biological distinctions.
A Broader Political Context
Governor Braun’s executive orders are part of a broader push by conservative lawmakers across the country to challenge policies that recognize gender identity over biological sex. Indiana now joins several other states that have implemented similar measures.
While the governor’s orders have been met with strong support from conservative groups, they are also expected to face legal challenges and opposition from LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. Critics argue that these policies may violate federal guidelines and could lead to discrimination lawsuits.
For now, Braun remains firm in his commitment to what he sees as protecting fundamental rights and ensuring fairness in Indiana’s laws. With these executive orders, he has taken a decisive stance in an ongoing national debate, signaling that Indiana will prioritize biological definitions over gender identity in its policies.
