Virginia governor ends regulatory push to protect girls’ sports

Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s newly elected governor, has ended a state regulatory process that would have established restrictions on participation in female-only sports and access to certain sex-specific facilities.

The State Board of Health had voted unanimously in August 2025 to move forward with regulations sought by a group of female athletes. 

The proposed rules were intended to prevent males from participating in organized female-only athletic teams and competitions and from entering certain female-designated spaces.

The regulatory effort began after a petition filed in April 2025 by swimmers Réka György, Lily Mullens and Carter Satterfield. The petition was subsequently approved by the Board of Health in a 14-0 vote, leading to a formal rulemaking process during former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration.