States consider restrictions on gender transitioning, transgender participation in girls’ sports

Washington D.C., Mar 5, 2021 / 17:00 pm

Lawmakers in Mississippi and Alabama have been debating bills concerning children who identify as transgender.

The governor of Mississippi pledges to sign a bill that would prohibit males who identify as females from participating on girls' sports teams.

"I will sign our bill to protect young girls from being forced to compete with biological males for athletic opportunities," said Gov. Tate Reeves (R) on Twitter on March 4. 

"It's crazy we have to address it, but the Biden (executive order) forced the issue," he added. "Adults? That's on them. But the push for kids to adopt transgenderism is just wrong." President Biden's Jan. 20 executive order stated that his administration will interpret federal civil rights law to protect sexual orientation and gender identity, a move critics warned would have broad implications in a number of areas including schools and sports.

The Mississippi legislature voted overwhelmingly--81 to 28 in the state House and 34-9 in the state Senate--to pass the "Mississippi Fairness Act." Eight Democratic House representatives joined 73 Republicans to vote for the bill, while the Senate vote fell along party lines with all "yea" votes coming from Republicans.  

The Mississippi Fairness Act would "require any public school, public institution of higher learning or institution of higher learning that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA or NJCCA to designate its athletic teams or sports according to biological sex; to provide protection for any school or institution of higher education that maintains separate athletic teams or sport for students of the female sex; to create private causes of action; and for related purposes." 

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 25 states have considered bills restricting athletes who identify as transgender from competing on a sports team aligned with their gender identity. 

Only one state, Idaho, has so far signed a bill restricting athletes identifying as transgender from competing with cisgender female athletes. The law has yet to go into effect and has been stalled in the courts.

Meanwhile in the neighboring state of Alabama, the state senate voted to make it a felony to provide a minor with puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy, or surgery to better mimic their chosen gender. 

A child with a diagnosed disorder of sexual development, such as a chromosomal abnormality, is exempt from the law. 

The Alabama Senate voted 23-4 to move the "Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act" to the state House of Representatives. The vote fell along party lines, with all Democrats voting against and all Republicans voting in favor of the bill. 

The bill also would make it illegal for school employees, including teachers, principals, nurses, and counselors, to "encourage or coerce a minor to withhold from the minor's parent or legal guardian the fact that the minor's perception of his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex," or "withhold from a minor's parent or guardian information related to a minor's perception that his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with his or her sex."