Advertisement

Ohio rugby clubs denounce USA Rugby rule banning trans women from women’s teams

‘Transgender and gender-diverse athletes belong in women’s rugby.’

Following the decision by USA Rugby last week to ban trans women from competing on women’s teams, rugby clubs across Ohio have spoken out condemning the decision as being a betrayal to their inclusive sport. 

USA Rugby, the United States governing body for the sport, said they needed to update their eligibility guidelines due to an executive order from the Trump administration to rescind federal funds and support from institutions – including schools and the International Olympic Committee –  that allow trans women to compete on women’s sports teams. 

Under the new USA Rugby guidelines, “the Women’s Division is limited to individuals who are assigned female at birth.” 

USA Rugby further created an “Open Division.”

Advertisement

“The Open Division will permit any athlete, regardless of gender assigned at birth and gender identity, to compete in USA Rugby-sanctioned events, whether full contact or non-contact,” USA Rugby said in a statement

In response to these changes, Ohio rugby clubs took to social media to denounce the new USA Rugby rules:

Akron Women’s Rugby Club

Cleveland Iron Maidens Rugby

Cincinnati Kelts Rugby Football Club

Cincinnati Wolfhounds

Columbus Kodiaks Rugby Football Club

Columbus Squirrels Rugby Club

Columbus Coyotes Rugby Football Club

Dayton Area Rugby Club

Toledo Celtics Women’s Rugby

Midwest Rugby Union

  • Support your local rugby club.

Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!

Submit a story!

Author

Dr. Ken Schneck (he/him) is the editor of The Buckeye Flame, Ohio’s LGBTQ+ newsroom. For this work, he was honored with the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for National LGBTQ+ Journalist of the Year. He is the author of “Seriously, What Am I Doing Here? The Adventures of a Wondering and Wandering Gay Jew” and three LGBTQ+ Ohio history books. Schneck spent 25 years working in higher education, including 10 years as a dean of students and 13 years as a tenured professor of education. He is a graduate of the Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.

Comments (1)

Comments are closed.

Our LGBTQ+ Ohio news is never behind a paywall. Help us keep it that way with a donation to The Buckeye Flame! When you donate, you’re keeping LGBTQ+ Ohioans informed about the issues that matter to us.

Why your support matters

A note from our Editor

Subscribe to The Spark

The Spark is our FREE weekly digest with all the latest LGBTQ+ Ohio news & views delivered right to your inbox.