Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order Tuesday to ban trans athletes from participating in women’s college sports. He was joined by former San Jose State volleyball player Elle Patterson, who claimed she lost in a scholarship for inter-athletes.
Braun said his orders ensured fairness in women’s sports in the press release.
“The women’s movement creates opportunities for young women to scholarships and develop leadership,” Braun said. “The vast majority of Hoosiers do not want opportunities that are undermined by allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports competition, and today’s executive orders will ensure that.”
The order states: “The executive order states educational institutions in Indiana must comply with the 2020 Title IX rules, rather than reinterpretation of the Biden administration in 2024, which is based on self-report, and the new ideas of changing “gender identity” extend protection.
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“The order ensures that female athletes in college sports are not forced to compete with biological men, retain the integrity of female sports and protect women’s opportunities only in the female sports league.”
Braun then signed another executive order, “rejecting extreme gender ideology and supporting the scientific reality of biology,” by strengthening Indiana’s legal definitions of “gender,” “gender,” “women,” “male,” “male,” “citizen,” “individual,” and “person” and “person.”
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“Today’s executive order will end any confusion about our state’s policy on this issue, so we can focus on my goals to ensure freedom and opportunity for all Indians,” Braun said after signing the second order.
Braun paid tribute to Patterson during the signing. Patterson joined the lawsuit against SJSU and Mountain West Conference in November, with 10 other players and a former assistant coach dealing with transgender Blaire Fleming.
Patterson claims the university did not fulfill her verbal proposal to offer her scholarships during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Patterson said she even paid full tuition in 2023 after being told she would receive a scholarship in 2024. However, the program wasn’t good at this proposal, and Fleming received a full scholarship.
The San Jose State Spartans player is playing against the Air Force Falcons at the East Gym in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 19, 2024. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
“Ultimately, Patterson once again financially cannot pay for total tuition, rooms and boards across the state in 2024, so in 2024 she will not be able to return to the SJSU team without a scholarship,” the documents said.
“Nevertheless, Todd Kress remains firmly stating that Patterson will not receive a scholarship from the SJSU team in 2024, and Fleming will receive a full scholarship to join the SJSU team.”
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Senator Mike Braun spoke at the Republican Indiana Governor Candidate Forum in Carmel, Indiana on January 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Braun expressed sympathy for Patterson in his speech Tuesday.
“It’s totally wrong, leaders need to stand up for young women like Eller,” Braun said. “We need to protect their bodies and the tremendous opportunities that are bringing in sports excellence.”
The order comes a day after the U.S. Senate failed to pass the protection of women and girls in the Sports Act. Despite the Republican majority’s 51 votes, Democrats beat the bill by 45 votes.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports on February 5. But so far, some Democratic-led states have refused to comply with the order.
Braun took steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen in his state and joined Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who signed a similar executive order in August.
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