Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama took a controversial step on Tuesday by signing into law legislation that prohibits transgender women from competing on female college sports teams. This comes after the state previously banned transgender athletes from participating in youth sports for grades K-12.
According to the new rules, students are not allowed to compete under a gender identity different from their biological sex, even if they have undergone hormone treatment. Governor Ivey justified the decision by emphasizing the importance of fairness in sports.
The campaign for these college restrictions gained momentum in April, with the legislation making significant progress in a short span of time. The ban on transgender participation in K-12 sports was implemented last year in 2021.
Supporters of the legislation argue that allowing biological males to compete against females would undermine the progress made by women in achieving equal opportunities in athletics. Republican Representative Susan DuBose, the bill’s author, stated that the advantages of being born male cannot be completely nullified by hormone therapy.
The legislation specifically prohibits biological girls from participating in boys’ and men’s sports as well. However, the move has faced strong criticism from members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, the Alabama state director of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, condemned the measure as part of a broader “systematic attack” against LGBTQ+ individuals both within Alabama and beyond. Anderson-Harvey expressed concern over the series of anti-LGBTQ+ measures enacted in the state over the past two years, claiming that they create an unwelcoming environment for transgender individuals and the entire LGBTQ+ community.
It is worth noting that Alabama is not alone in implementing restrictions on transgender girls and women participating in female sports, as twenty other states have similar limitations in place.