Virginia Governor Directs State Officials to Block Males from Competing in Girls’ Athletics
October 7, 2025
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has issued an Executive Directive ordering the state’s health board to establish regulations prohibiting males who identify as female from participating in women’s sports and using facilities designated for women.
Christianity Daily reports that the directive is titled “Directing the Promulgation of Regulations to Secure the Health, Safety, Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Virginians in Sex Separated Spaces.”
Under the directive, the Virginia Board of Health is required to “Prevent biological males from participating in organized female-only athletic teams and competitions in Virginia” and “Prevent biological males from using designated female spaces where females are likely to be in a state of undress.”
The directive is the result of an ongoing legal dispute between the Trump administration and five Virginia school districts that are refusing to amend their policies regarding male athletes competing in women’s sports.
Those districts, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, continue to defy the U.S. Department of Education, which has labeled the practice discriminatory.
According to Christianity Daily, Youngkin said, “The health and safety of women and girls in sex separated spaces and participating in athletic competitions is in serious jeopardy due to irresponsible policies, including those that allow known sex offenders to hunt little girls in public locker rooms.”
The Governor added, “It is an embarrassment and a tragedy that certain individuals continue to turn a blind eye to these clear violations of the law and of the health, safety, privacy, dignity, and respect of Virginians. This must stop.”
Younkin’s directive also referenced complaints filed against Virginia schools, including a Sept. 2 report of a male who was observed watching females change in the girl’s locker room of a Fairfax County public school.
Photo: top, Credit: Facebook/Governor of Virginia