Indiana Lawmakers Pass Anti-Trans Sports Bill, Send to Governor
The Indianapolis Star. He wouldn’t say, however, if he considers trans girls to be girls, and he said he’d have to see the final language of the bill before deciding if he would sign it.
But the language hasn’t changed since the January 27 House vote.The bill states, “A male, based on a student’s biological sex at birth in accordance with the student’s genetics and reproductive biology, may not participate on an athletic team or sport designated under this section as being a female, women’s, or girls’ athletic team or sport.”It applies to public schools and any private school that competes with public schools.
It does not apply to transgender boys or to collegiate sports. It allows for students and parents to file grievances or civil lawsuits for violation.The Indiana High School Athletic Association has a policy in place allowing trans youth to participate in the sports designated for their gender identity if they have lived as that gender for at least a year and, for girls, it states that they must have “completed a minimum of one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition or undergone a medically confirmed gender reassignment procedure.”Only one trans girl has applied under the policy in recent years, the Star reports; other states have had similar experiences.
But Republican Sen. Stacey Donato, one of the bill’s sponsors, said it doesn’t matter if it’s “one or 100.”The Indiana Democratic Party has urged Holcomb to veto the bill. “It must be said that nothing is wrong and being transgender is exactly how God created you and is exactly who you are born to be,” said party chairman Mike Schmuhl, according to the Star.Civil rights groups are speaking out against the legislation as well.
