Why it matters: This means transgender students would not be allowed to play on sport teams that match their gender identity.
What they're saying: Republican Sen. Marty Harbin, the bill's chief sponsor, said his legislation "is about fairness" and that it's not fair for students who are born female to compete with students who are born male.
Opponents of such bills have pushed back on their stated motivations. Trans and nonbinary WNBA player Layshia Clarendon previously told Axios that many states don't have transgender students participating in sports and have not seen any examples of transgender athletes dominating girls' sports."
Comment: What a disingenuous statement. What rock has s/he been living under for the last eight years or so?
- Female athletes take a stand after transgender athletes dominate track event: 'We're facing the end of women's sports'
- 8th Place: A high school girl's life after transgender students join her sport
- Runner urges women to speak out after 'losing FIVE times to transgender athletes'
- Biological male MMA fighter who broke a woman's skull, twice, named "bravest athlete in history"
- Victory? Trans swimmer Lia Thomas sets new record for 200-yard freestyle race beating female athletes by half a pool length
Of note: A similar bill did not advance last year, after skepticism from House Speaker David Ralston. Ralston has not commented on this latest bill.
The other side: Democratic Sen. Michelle Au, a physician, said the legislation would lead to discrimination against transgender students, who she said face higher rates of suicidality.
- According to the Trevor Project's 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 52% of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed have considered taking their own lives.
- "We are talking about children here," she said. "We are talking about a bill that increases risk, stigmatizes and endangers children."
- Medical experts and doctors fear an increase in mental health crises among transgender kids due to the dozens of bills introduced to criminalize gender-affirming health care.
- The Democratic senator said the legislation is "sloppy," and that she and her child believe more recreational sports are needed in high school because so many students are excluded for various reasons.
- "I just want this to stop because this feels premature, and this feels judgmental," she said.
Comment: No one asking the obvious question. Why aren't FtoM 'trans men' storming the gates of men's sports? Could natal biology have something to do with it?