Utah, North Dakota Moves Forward With Bill To Ban Transgender Athletes In School Sports
Utah and North Dakota became the latest states to go against the gender equality push of Democrats as they moved to effectively ban transgenders from competing in women’s sports by using the biological gender of students in determining their category in sports competition.
A committee of the Utah state House of Representatives reportedly passed House Bill (HB) 302, entitled ‘Preserving Sports for Female Students’ bill that would ban biological boys from competing on female sports teams in the state’s public and private K-12 schools regardless of their gender identity. Once approved, the measure would also require all schools to delineate whether sports are “male,” “female,” or “coed.”
HB 302 defines sex as the “biological, physical condition of being male or female, determined by an individual’s genetics and anatomy at birth.”
“Across America, there are stories of individuals who identified as male at birth competing against our female athletes,” said state Rep. Kera Birkeland, who introduced the proposal in Utah.
“These individuals who identify as male at birth are breaking records that no female will be able to reach. They’re taking championships, titles, and scholarships from our female athletes. To say it’s taking a toll on our female athletes would be an understatement,” Birkeland, who is also a junior varsity high school basketball coach.
North Dakota advances its version
Meanwhile, North Dakota also advanced its version of the proposal that would require school athletes to participate on sports teams based on their biological sex.
Its version of the measure filed as HB 1298 recently passed the North Dakota’s House and is expected to be taken up by the state’s Senate.
“Some have said this bill just doesn’t follow the science. We’ve got science going back well before the United States that backs this. This isn’t new science. Men and women didn’t just cease to exist. They’ve existed for a long time and we’ve been able to recognize the differences,” state Rep. Ben Koppelman, the proposal’s main sponsor said.
Another Republican state Rep. Kathy Skroch, who co-sponsored the bill, said contrary to what critics claim, the bill is actually meant to ensure gender equality.
“This is about girls competing with girls, ensuring equal opportunity and keeping a level playing field in girls’ sports. It upholds 50 years of progress and protecting women against discrimination and advocates for the preservation of biological standards,” she said.
The state’s Democratic leadership was less supportive of the bill — echoing the same sentiment being pushed by Democrats at a national level as they push to allow transgenders to compete in women’s sports.
“It’s about learning about yourself, being part of a team, solving problems, figuring out life. But we’re gonna tell some kids you can’t,” State House Minority Leader Josh Boschee said of the proposal.
Another Democratic state lawmaker Rep. Mary Schneider also called for the chamber to ‘kill the bill.’
“This bill is thinly veiled prejudice under the guise of protection. This bill is fomenting fear where no problem is present. Kill this bad bill. Let’s get out of the way and let our kids play,” she said.
Utah and North Dakota are among the states looking into similar legislation regarding transgender students participating in women’s sports. Earlier, Idaho and Montana also advanced similar proposals — challenging Democrat President Joe Biden’s push for transgender rights after earlier restoring their military service access.
Other states reportedly considering their own versions of the bills include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington.
