On the First Day of Pride Month, Protesters Cry "Foul" as Florida Bans Transgender Student-Athletes From Girls' or Women's Sports Teams
As timing goes, the new law "Fairness in Women's Sports Act" is already inspiring angry protests across the nation and along party lines.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new bill limiting transgender student-athletes on the first day of June, aka Gay Pride Month. The law singles out ONLY biologically born boys who are transgender and wish to play on girls' or women's teams and does not include biologically born girls who want to play on boys' or mens' teams.
The law states student-athletes who are transgender cannot participate in sports without submitting their birth certificate saying the person was born a "girl." However, the law does not specify if all girls or boys must submit their birth certificates to participate in female sports. Instead, the language refers to "transgender" athletes.
Another provision of the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act" allows any student to sue the school if it allows a transgender girl (born a biological boy) or woman to play on a team created for biological females.
It is expected the new Florida law will encounter constitutional lawsuits, as it is similar to an Idaho law passed last year that is now facing numerous challenges. Recently, three other governors from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee signed similar bills into law.
Florida Republican State Senator Kelli Stargel sponsored the bill, saying the new law will protect female athletes from competing against biologically born males.
"This bill is very simply about making sure that women can safely compete, have opportunities and physically be able to excel in a sport that they trained for, prepared for, and work for," noted Stargel. "This is nothing about anybody being discriminated against. It's solely so that women have an opportunity to compete in women's sports."
Fellow Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, strongly disagreed.
"This is yet another hate-driven attack from the governor and Republican legislators, and it's insulting that they've staged this morning's photo-op on the first day of Pride Month," said Jones. "At the end of the day, transgender kids are just kids."
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also called foul on the controversial bill, warning the new law may lead to profitable tournaments or championship games skipping over states with similar laws regarding transgender athletes. Before the vote, the NCAA said they would only host championship games in "locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination."
After the law's passage in Florida, the NCAA said they have "a long-standing policy that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports."
The bill initially called for legally requiring transgender athletes in high schools and colleges to take genetic or testosterone testing and have their genitalia examined. However, these requirements did not remain in the bill.
Speaking at a private Florida Christian School as he signed the new bill, Governor DeSantis said, "In Florida, girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports. We're going to make sure that that's the reality."
The new law approved by Florida legislation will take effect on July 1.
