Trans athletes will be allowed to continue to play in girls sports, new jersey says, ciattarelli responds

TRENTON, N.J. — Former New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is calling on the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to change its policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity, following the organization’s decision to uphold its current rules despite a directive from former President Donald Trump.

Ciattarelli took to social media Friday to voice his opposition. “When it comes to athletic competition, biological females should not be forced to compete against biological males. The NJSIAA needs to change their tune and change it now. Fair and safe competition for our girls is paramount. Period,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The NJSIAA reaffirmed its policy during an Executive Committee meeting Wednesday, with legal counsel Steve Goodell stating there would be no immediate changes. The association’s current policy allows transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity without requiring medical transition.

Ciattarelli’s remarks come amid a broader national debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, with Trump and other Republican leaders advocating for restrictions. The NJSIAA has not indicated whether it will revisit the policy in the future.

A political clash over transgender athletes intensifies as Ciattarelli pushes back against New Jersey’s high school sports policy.

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