Yes, the Transgender Athlete Bans Are Real
The phrases “be who you are” and “everyone is human” have so much meaning to them, yet some people do not bother to stand by them. Transgender people and supporters all around the world have been fighting for their rights, but sometimes, everything seems to fall apart. Criticism still rises from those people who inflict fear and judge those on their beliefs and their choices, only because they are afraid themselves.
The House Bill 1041, banning transgender girls from playing girls school sports, has currently been passed by the members of the Indiana House of Representatives. This bill would prohibit those who are enrolled in grades K-12 and now identify as female to play a sport or play for a team that classifies for girls. Recently, five Republican representatives joined the eleven Democrats promoting the case. Provided the bill is backed by the other 84 representatives, the bill is scheduled to pass on March 3. It is important to note that all members of the Indiana House are older, white Republicans, which calls attention to the demographic in charge of such crucial issues. This is the same House that disapproved another proposal about giving transgender athletes scholarship funds, working with Indiana’s General Attorney’s Office to use the same money that can be used against this new ban. “This purpose is to maintain fair competition in girls sports,” says Rep. Michelle Davis, a Greenwood Republican who authored the bill. Sadly, it looks like many agree with her statement, yet the ones who disagree call this “sexist,” “waste of taxpayers dollars,” and “bigoted.”
Indiana is not the only place to start this law. Reporter David W. Chen explains how over the past two years, one state has relied on the ban that nine other states have signed to regulate a bar that does not permit transgender athletes from playing any sports. While the ten states have already sealed this ban, at least 23 other states went into consideration of this law, yet did not pass. Supporters of the new ban in Texas agree because “it promotes fairness during sports games from the transgender kids who would have benefited from the strong male hormones.” But Ricardo Martinez, the Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, has said, “Trans Kids and Adults in Texas — and everywhere — deserve love and support . . . They deserve not to be debated but affirmed and the right to exist without their government trying to push them out of everyday life.” Ricardo and his team continue to fight for transgender rights in Texas and against this bill.
Throughout all this turmoil, however, one major step has been made. The IOC [International Olympic Committee] has made a new update to the previous guidelines, stating that no athlete should be excluded because of their transgender identities or sex variations. In an article written by The Conversation editors, they say that, “This new approach is a positive move for gender equitable sport; both trans women and women with sex variations will be valuable allies in the fight to make sport safe and inclusive for all women.” This is one example of places and committees who are acting against the national ban and giving transgender girls the rights they deserve.
Although many protesters have made it clear this is a wrong action for the country to be acting upon one-by-one, it seems that many Republican, and even some Democrat House state leaders, will never listen. The leaders are trying to fix a problem that fundamentally does not exist. The way to help is to sign petitions, teach and educate others about the unfortunate matters, or call state representatives to say no against our state anti-trans bills. Spreading the word could impact the entire country, even if it starts with one voice.
