Nearly 2,000 women and girls across America have been denied gold medals they rightfully earned simply because biological males were allowed to compete in their sport. New research from Concerned Women for America (CWA) reveals that trans-identifying males have displaced 1,941 female athletes, pushing rightful champions down to second place. In professional sports alone, these athletes have taken more than $493,173 in prize money from women.
This is not inclusion. It is an injustice.
Here in New Mexico, the danger is real. Unlike states that have taken steps to protect women’s sports, New Mexico allows students to compete in the gender division listed on their birth certificate, which can be changed with parental consent for minors. While this policy may sound inclusive, in practice, it opens the door for biological males to compete in girls’ sports, creating an uneven playing field and undermining decades of progress for women.
The impact nationwide is staggering. Trans-identifying males have entered more than 10,067 female sporting events, displacing tens of thousands of girls and women. In California alone, more than 521 athletes have been forced into second place. Governing bodies, ranging from high school associations to the NCAA and professional leagues such as USA Track and Field and the LPGA, have all permitted it.
Sports are meant to build confidence, reward discipline, and celebrate achievement. But when biological males compete against females, those goals are compromised. Girls are denied medals, scholarships, and recognition. Their achievements are diminished, and the message is clear: women’s victories matter less.
New Mexico must not stand by while this continues. Lawmakers, educators, and the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) have the power and the responsibility to implement policies that protect sex-based categories in sports. Doing so is not about excluding anyone from participating in school or community life. It is about preserving fairness in a setting where biological differences have a direct impact on outcomes.
Protecting women’s sports is about more than medals or prize money. It is about safeguarding opportunity and affirming the value of women in society. If New Mexico leaders refuse to act, they are telling every girl in this state that her hard work, training, and dreams are worth less. That is unacceptable.
Female athletes deserve a level playing field. The time to act is now – for our daughters, our families, and the future of women’s sports.
Read the full report here: CWA Males in Women’s Sports Factsheet.
Nickie McCarty is the State Director for Concerned Women for America of New Mexico. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
