The Republican-controlled Mississippi State Senate on Thursday passed a bill that aims to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s or women’s sports in public schools and universities.
According The Associated Press, the Senate approved the measure in a 34-9 vote.
The legislation is the latest effort by state legislators across the country to impose restrictions on trans youth in athletics, as well as health care that confirms the gender.
“I have had several coaches across the state calling me and believe that they feel there is a need for a policy in Mississippi because they are starting to have some concerns about having to deal with it,” said Senator Angela Hill (R), sponsor of the project, he said on Thursday.
The AP reported that there was little discussion in the Senate before the vote. The bill now heads to the House, where Republicans also hold the majority.
President biden signed an executive order on his first day in office, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in school sports, the workplace and other settings.
Several conservatives have opposed the order, arguing that it will require schools that receive federal funding to allow transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports teams. The White House denied that statement.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) criticized Biden’s executive order in a series of tweets earlier this month, writing that he was “disappointed by President Biden’s actions to force girls … to compete with biological men for access to athletics. “
Reeves, who has three daughters, added that Biden’s request “will limit the opportunities for as many competitors as my daughters. It is a bad and wrong policy for America ”.
My girls practice tirelessly. They work a lot. They learned to win and, yes, they learned what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the final score. It’s a real bond – my happiest and proudest moments for Dad.
– Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) February 4, 2021
I don’t understand why politicians are pushing children into transgenderism in the first place. I certainly don’t understand why the president chose to make this a priority. And my heart breaks for the young women across America who will miss out on this radical social experiment.
– Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) February 4, 2021
The Human Rights Campaign in Wednesday condemned the bills being presented in Mississippi and other states related to access to health care and participation in sports for transgender people.
“These bills do not address any real problems and are not being requested by the constituents ”, LGBTQ advocacy group said in a statement. “Instead, this effort is being led by far-right national organizations that are trying to sow fear and hatred.”
North Dakota state on Thursday passed a bill this would prohibit young transgender athletes from joining teams that correspond to their gender identity. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, also prohibits sporting events from receiving public funding if they have a trans athlete playing on a team that matches their gender identity.