Spanberger Administration Ends Youngkin-Era Virginia School Sports Rulemaking

By Andrew Powell (/journals/andrew-powell)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration has ended a rulemaking process that could have required Virginia school sports to be separated by sex, drawing criticism from Republican lawmakers and former officials. The decision, made in late July, was not publicly announced at the time and only became widely known this week, according to Fox News. Virginia Health Commissioner B. Cameron Webb confirmed that the administration and his agency “did not proceed with the proposed regulation.” The proposed rules originated during the administration of former Gov. Glenn Youngkin. They would have barred biological males from participating in organized female-only athletic teams and competitions, and restricted access to designated female-only spaces used for undressing. The Virginia Board of Health had supported moving forward with the regulatory process during Youngkin’s tenure. The proposal, however, never became a final statewide regulation before the process was discontinued under Spanberger. The decision has prompted sharp reactions from Republicans who had supported the proposed restrictions. Former Virginia Del. Kim Taylor, a Republican from Petersburg, said she was angry after learning that the process had been stopped. Taylor, who is a mother, argued that the policy debate involves privacy, safety and athletic opportunities for girls. Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, also criticized the administration, describing the move as “classic Spanberger” and accusing officials of failing to communicate the decision publicly. Indiana state Rep. Michelle Davis, a former Ball State basketball player, said Spanberger appeared to be “taking Virginia backwards.” Davis argued that women’s sports should maintain a separate playing field for female athletes. The State Board of Health’s chairwoman, Dr. Melissa Nelson, also told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that she was unaware the rulemaking process was being ended. “Our hearts go out to everybody involved, the athletes on all sides of it,” Nelson said. The dispute comes as states continue to debate rules governing transgender athletes in school sports. In Virginia, the Youngkin-era proposal has now been abandoned before becoming enforceable statewide.