Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), accusing the organization of misleading college sports fans by allowing transgender women to compete in events designated for women. Paxton argues that this practice violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by deceiving fans who expect to see competitions involving athletes assigned female at birth.
In his lawsuit, Paxton alleges that the NCAA has misled consumers by failing to identify which athletes are transgender and that the inclusion of transgender athletes jeopardizes the safety and well-being of women athletes. Paxton further criticized the NCAA for permitting what he termed “radical ‘gender theory'” in college sports.
The lawsuit seeks a court order that would either restrict the participation of transgender athletes in NCAA competitions in Texas or prevent the NCAA from labeling events as women’s sports if they include transgender women. Paxton’s action comes amid growing political attention on the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, particularly as part of the larger debate over transgender rights.
The NCAA did not directly respond to the lawsuit’s allegations but emphasized its commitment to supporting women’s sports, with communications director Michelle Brutlag Hosick stating that the association would continue to promote Title IX and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships.
The lawsuit comes after NCAA President Charlie Baker was questioned by lawmakers about the inclusion of transgender athletes during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Baker acknowledged that there are fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing among the 500,000 NCAA athletes.
Paxton’s lawsuit follows the passage of a law in Texas last year that bans transgender athletes from competing on college teams that align with their gender identity. This legal action is part of a broader push by Republicans, who have made opposition to transgender women’s participation in women’s sports a key issue in recent years.
