Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports Now Banned in 40 Percent of U.S.
transgender athletes have soared in recent years, with many conservatives arguing that transgender women competing in all-female leagues allows for an unfair advantage against biological girls and women.
Idaho was the first state to enact restrictions on transgender athletes in March 2020, although the bill has been on hold since August of that year following a lawsuit that argues it's discriminatory against transgender women and girls.On Wednesday, the Kansas GOP-controlled state legislature voted to override Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's third veto of a bill that restricts transgender athletes from participating in women sports.
Kelly claimed after issuing her final veto of the bill last month that the law was about "politics" and will "harm the mental health of our students."Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ+ activist group, called the Kansas bill "misguided and discriminatory" in a statement shared with Newsweek on Wednesday, adding that it "goes against extensive research and ignores what we know to be the actual threats to women's sports: unequal pay, rampant sexual abuse and harassment, lack of women in leadership and inequities in resources for women athletes."Proponents of the bill celebrated its win on Wednesday, saying the law will help protect female athletics.
Republican Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins, House Majority Leader Chris Croft and Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter released a joint statement following the House vote, writing, "We proudly stand with the female athletes across Kansas in their pursuit of athletic awards, opportunities, and scholarships and believe they deserve every chance at success afforded to their male counterparts."Newsweek has reached out to Kelly's office via email for.
