Tennessee Senate passes bill banning transgender high school athletes from playing sports
By: Liz Roscher (MSN)
Good!! Baby steps.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
undefined© Provided by Yahoo! Sports Tennessee is the latest state to pass a bill banning transgender athletes from participating in middle or high school sports that matches their gender identity. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
The Tennessee Senate passed a controversial bill on Monday night that bans transgender middle and high school students from playing sports based on their gender identity.
The bill passed 27-6 on a party-line vote. The House has not yet scheduled a final vote on the bill.
A summary of Senate Bill 228, via WJHL, says it "requires, for the purposes of participation in a middle school or high school interscholastic athletic activity or event, that a student's gender be determined by the student's sex at the time of the student's birth, as indicated on the student's original birth certificate." There is no exception for any transgender athletes who are receiving gender-affirming care.
Supporters of the bill say that it promotes fairness, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said that transgender athletes will "destroy women's sports." However, LGBTQ+ advocates are against the bill, arguing that it's discriminatory and demonstrates a misunderstanding of both science and the transgender experience.
What a hurtful thing for a leader to say. There have been zero incidents of this being an issue. This is just hate legislation, and to double down with an insult to our LGBTQ community is unnecessary. Let's elect leaders who care about ALL Tennesseans! https://t.co/AbfdVgbCpZ
— Heidi Campbell (@campbelltn20) February 10, 2021
There is currently no evidence that any transgender athletes are participating in middle or high school sports anywhere in the state. That hasn't stopped bill advocates from assuming, without evidence, that it will be a "problem" in the future and insisting that the bill solves a future problem that just hasn't appeared yet.
"To say it's not a problem in Tennessee may be true, but it will be a problem in Tennessee probably sooner than we think," said Sen. Kerry Roberts via the Tennessean.
According to the Tennessean, 21 states have introduced anti-trans athlete bills, and those bills have passed at least one chamber in six states.
Wisconsin introduces bill to ban transgender athletes
Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin introduced a similar bill Tuesday which would ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports, according to the Associated Press.
The ban, if implemented, would apply to athletes in kindergarten through college. The proposal is being supported by Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair Cruikshank, who won five gold medals for speed skating.
If the Republican-controlled Legislature passes the proposal, it's believed Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers — who is a Democrat — will veto it.
Evers did not discuss policy Tuesday, but tweeted support for transgender kids and students, saying "you are welcome, you are wanted, and you belong."
My message to Wisconsin's transgender kids and students today is simple: I see you. You are welcome, you are wanted, and you belong.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) March 2, 2021
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Sanity strikes....................
Let's see if progressives try to strike back with their war on women!
What a hurtful thing for a leader to say. There have been zero incidents of this being an issue. This is just hate legislation, and to double down with an insult to our LGBTQ community is unnecessary. Let's elect leaders who care about ALL Tennesseans!
People of sound and sane minds will applaud and approve of this legislation. And there been issues with it in some states. This is not a slap at the LGBTQ community, just a dose of realism and common sense. This cartoon says it all.
Finally ... something for Repubs to blow out of proportion. The sadder part is they'll likely succeed.
That might be true in Tennessee, but it is not true as we look around the country. So this person is either dishonest or ignorant.
I think it's fair to observe that hate of trans people does exist, but this is not an example of it. This is a rule that, more than anything else, advocates and supports young female athletes. That used to be a thing liberals cared about. What happened to the people who use to be proud to endorse Title IX? What happened to the liberals who used to be proud to demand equal opportunities for women in athletics?
LOL. Because kindergarten school sports is a thing.
Have any of the people promoting transfemale athletes considered the number of pro women athletes who are trying to keep the playing field level by supporting legislation like this all around the country? Doesn't that tell us something important? I thought we were supposed to listen to women. Does that not apply here?
Would Bonnie Blair had won five gold medals if she had had to compete against skaters who were born and developed as male?