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Kim Jones vs. transgender people

Kim Jones is an American engineer, former college athlete, and anti-transgender activist. Jones is an opponent of trans athletes competing in sex-segregated competitive sports. Jones is co-founder of Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS). 

note: for the professional tennis player born in 1957, see Kimberly Jones.

Background

Kimberly M. “Kim” Shasby was born in 1973 and grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. Shasby played tennis at Stanford University. Shasby earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 and a master’s degree in 1998.

Jones and spouse Scott Alexander Jones have four children who were all collegiate swimmers.

After graduating, Kim Jones worked as a manufacturing engineer at Agilent Technologies from 1998 to 2000. Jones served on the Stanford Athletic Board from 2001 to 2005.

Anti-trans activism

In 2022, after Jones’ child came in second to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in a swimming event, Jones became a prominent opponent of trans athletes competing in sex-segregated competitive sports.

Jones and Marshi Smith co-founded Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), seeking rule changes in trans athlete inclusion policies at governing bodies.

ICONS initiated several lawsuits against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and quickly grew into a million-dollar nonprofit:

  • 2022: $103,486
  • 2023: $453,803
  • 2024: $1,060,926

References

Christovich, Amanda (March 2, 2025). One Group Is Funding the NCAA Transgender Ban Lawsuits. Front Office Sports https://frontofficesports.com/ncaa-transgender-ban-lawsuits-group-icons/

Pazniokas. Mark (August 6, 2024). CT mom is national voice against trans athletes in women’s sports. Connecticut Mirror https://ctmirror.org/2024/08/06/ct-trans-athletes-womens-sports/

Anti-trans coverage

Harding, Amber (November 11, 2025). ICONS Co-Founder: Boxing Scandal Was IOC’s ‘Tipping Point’ On Reported Trans Ban. Outkick https://www.outkick.com/analysis/icons-co-founder-kim-jones-boxing-scandal-ioc-trans-ban

Schumacher, Josh (August 8, 2023). Athletes criticize U.S. Tennis Association’s transgender policy. World News Group https://wng.org/sift/athletes-criticize-u-s-tennis-associations-transgender-policy-1691491473

Selected writing by Jones

Jones, Kim (July 24, 2022). JONES: A Mother’s Journey Through The Upside Down World Of College Swimming. Daily Caller https://dailycaller.com/2022/07/24/opinion-a-mothers-journey-through-the-upside-down-world-of-college-sports-jones/

Media

Heterodorx with Nina Paley, Corinna Cohn, and Kim Jones (June 24, 2023). Episode 102: Gender of Champions with Kim Jones. https://heterodorx.com/podcast/episode-102-gender-of-champions-with-kim-jones/

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

  • Kim Jones
  • transdatalibrary.org/person/kim-jones

Independent Council on Women’s Sports (iconswomen.com)

X/Twitter (kimjonesicons)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Daily Caller (dailycaller.com)