Texas governor signs bill banning trans girls from participating on school girls’ sports teams into law, the bill that will force public school students to compete in interscholastic sports competitions based on their biological sex.
Texas has officially banned trans girls from competing in women’s sports
When the bill goes into effect in January, transgender students will be required to compete on the team that corresponds to the sex listed on their birth certificate, which may differ from their gender identity.
Although the text of the bill claims it will address past discrimination faced by girls in athletics, LGBT advocates say it will prevent transgender athletes from participating on teams designated by their gender identity.
Amit Paley, executive director and CEO of the Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth, said that although the Texas bill was signed, the fight is not over. “@TrevorProject is here to provide 24/7 support; we will continue to work with our partners to challenge this law to protect trans and non-binary Texans .
#LetKidsPlay,” he tweeted.
#HB25, the anti-trans sports bill in TX, was signed into law today—but this fight isn’t over.
The @TrevorProject is here for support 24/7—we’ll continue working w/ our partners to challenge this law to protect trans & nonbinary Texans. #LetKidsPlayhttps://t.co/8SE4W1WbzQ
— Amit Paley (@amitpaley) October 25, 2021
Seven other states passed similar laws this year, according to Reuters. In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron De Santis signed into law a bill banning transgender girls and women from competing on women’s sports teams in high school and college.
The law, which was signed on the first day of Pride Month, states that women and girls must play on sports teams of the “biological sex” listed on their birth certificate.
Therefore, a transgender girl whose birth certificate indicates that her “biological sex” is male cannot play on a female sports team.
