Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues NCAA Over Transgender Athlete Policy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), accusing the organization of misleading consumers by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. The suit, filed in Lubbock County on Monday, alleges five violations of Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).
Paxton’s Claims Against the NCAA
The lawsuit claims the NCAA misled the public into believing women’s sports events were exclusively for biologically female athletes. Paxton called the NCAA’s policy, which permits transgender athletes meeting certain testosterone thresholds to compete, an imposition of “radical gender theory.”
“The NCAA is knowingly jeopardizing the safety and integrity of women’s sports by effectively turning them into co-ed competitions,” Paxton said. “When fans watch women’s volleyball, they expect women competing against women, not biological males.”
Consumer Protection Law at Play
The DTPA, a Texas consumer protection law, serves as the backbone of Paxton’s argument. He has requested an injunction to immediately ban transgender athletes from women’s events in the state.
NCAA Defends Title IX
The NCAA refrained from commenting on the lawsuit but reaffirmed its commitment to Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. “The association and its members will continue to invest in women’s sports and ensure fair competition across NCAA championships,” a spokesperson said.
A Broader Conservative Agenda
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of actions by Paxton targeting transgender-inclusive policies. In June 2023, he sued the Biden administration to block its proposed expansion of Title IX to include protections for LGBTQ+ students. Paxton has consistently labeled such measures as part of an “extremist transgender movement.”
The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for the future of transgender participation in college sports.
