The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity Applauds Trump Order Defining Sex and Protecting Women’s Sports
The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity is celebrating recent federal actions supporting parental rights, student safety, and common-sense policies—issues the organization has championed for years. On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order stating, “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.” This federal action has profound implications for Title IX will protect women’s sports across the country.
The debate stems from a 2021 executive order by President Joe Biden, which accelerated the expansion of transgender policies nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education subsequently drafted a new Title IX regulation, redefining sex to include “gender identity.”
Public opposition quickly emerged, with concerns focused on gender transitions for minors, campus due process, pronoun mandates, free speech, parental rights, and women’s sports.
“Our Center is proud to be part of the national Save Title IX network and to have played a significant role in raising awareness in our state about many of the controversial woke policies that are dividing our communities,” said Mike Stenhouse, CEO of the Center.
In response, the Title IX Network was formed, growing to include 240 national, state, and local organizations united in their opposition to the proposed rule. Dozens of members of Congress, state governors, and attorneys general voiced their concerns, with some calling for the abolition of the Department of Education.
Additionally, 100 state lawmakers from 32 states signed a pledge to “protect schools, children, and families from the Biden Title IX rule.” Sen. Elaine Morgan was the only Rhode Island lawmaker to sign.
Numerous states enacted policies aimed at countering the transgender movement. Twenty-five states passed laws barring men from participating in women’s sports, while SAVE, a legal advocacy group, launched a Citizen Watchdog Program to monitor schools at the local level.
Despite widespread opposition, the Department of Education finalized its Title IX regulation on April 19, 2024, officially expanding the definition of sex to include “gender identity” while also removing key due process protections for individuals accused of misconduct. Within weeks, nine lawsuits challenging the regulation were filed.