On January 20, 2025, the day President Trump took the oath of office, his administration issued a significant executive order affirming the binary reality of biological sex. The order defines “sex” as the immutable classification of individuals as either male or female, explicitly excluding the concept of “gender identity” from this definition. It establishes a federal policy that recognizes only two biological sexes—male and female—and mandates the enforcement of laws that protect sex-based distinctions. This directive also requires all federal policies, documents, and facilities, including bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters, to align with this definition, effectively safeguarding single-sex spaces and activities for women.
The Order also extends to activities designed for women, such as sex-based athletics. Notably, the Biden Administration had already rescinded its proposed Title IX Athletics Rule on December 20, 2024, just before leaving office. This rule would have required schools to allow males to compete on girls’ teams. The Biden Administration’s decision to withdraw the regulation may have been influenced by the strong likelihood that courts would strike it down, as they had done with other Title IX changes.
President Trump’s Order was issued just over a week after the Eastern District of Kentucky, in Tennessee v. Cardona, struck down the Biden Administration’s interpretation of “sex” as including gender identity rather than biological sex in contexts where sex distinctions are legally permitted, such as in sports or bathroom and locker room privacy. The Trump Administration, in its executive order, identifies this interpretation as a misapplication of Bostock v. Clayton County (2020). It argues that this misinterpretation undermines the biological category of “woman,” turning laws meant to protect sex-based opportunities into policies that erode them, replacing long standing legal rights with an identity-based, vague social concept. To address this, the Order directs the Attorney General to issue guidance ensuring that agency activities adhere to the correct application of Bostock, safeguarding sex-based distinctions explicitly allowed under constitutional and statutory law.
Section 4 of the Order outlines how distinctions based on biological sex must be implemented to protect privacy in intimate spaces. It mandates that all federal agencies designate such spaces for women, girls, or females (and vice versa) strictly based on biological sex, excluding gender identity. Biological males are prohibited from being housed in women’s prisons or detention centers. Additionally, federal funds cannot be used for medical procedures, treatments, or drugs intended to alter an inmate’s appearance to resemble that of the opposite sex. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is directed to propose a policy for public notice and comment to rescind the 2016 rule titled “Equal Access in Accordance with an Individual’s Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs” (81 FR 64763). Furthermore, the Secretary must develop a new policy aimed at protecting women seeking single-sex rape shelters.
These changes also apply to all executive agency materials, including statements, policies, forms, communications, and any internal or external messages that previously promoted gender ideology. Government documents, such as passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, must now identify an individual’s biological sex without recognizing or accommodating gender identity. Additionally, federal funds are strictly prohibited from being used to promote gender ideology in any form.
The new administration has pledged to “defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience” by implementing clear and accurate language and policies that affirm the biological reality that women are female and men are male. The Attorney General is directed to issue guidance ensuring the freedom to “express the binary nature of sex and the right to single-sex spaces” in workplaces and federally funded entities under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additionally, numerous documents issued under the Biden Administration that conflict with this Order have been identified and rescinded, as “[e]fforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being.”
As we move forward, it is critical for every voice to be heard in the fight to uphold biological reality and protect the rights and safety of women and girls. This executive order is a significant step, but lasting change requires continued vigilance and advocacy. Speak out for the safety of your daughters, the fairness of their opportunities in sports, and the preservation of single-sex spaces that respect their dignity and privacy. Stay informed, stay engaged, and speak up. Courage is contagious. Together, we can ensure that these protections remain strong and that our shared values are upheld long after this administration.
Foto by Ad Meskens / Wikipedia Commons.
I 100% agree with President Trumps executive order and look forward to the future with common sense and dignity for both MAN and WOMAN.