Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports on college and university campuses.
The Republican signed HB261 — a bill to ban “biological males from participating on any sports team or female-only sport” — on Tuesday.
In a statement after the signing, Ivey said she was proud to “protect female athletes at all levels and uphold the integrity of athletics.”
The signing comes less than two months after she signed another bill that makes it a crime in Alabama to give children sex-altering drugs.
“I believe very strongly that if the good Lord made you a boy, you’re a boy, and if he made you a girl, you’re a girl,” Ivey said at the time.
Tuesday’s new law comes as the debate over whether trans athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s events continues across the country.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill banning trans athletes from competing against women in college sports
Recently, California sports officials expelled protesters outraged by the inclusion of transgender athletes at an event at a state high school.
“If you’re a biological male, you’re not going to participate in women’s and women’s sports in Alabama. It’s a matter of fairness, plain and simple,’ Gov Ivey wrote in a tweet.
On Tuesday, the governor tweeted her thoughts on the controversial bill, sharing her pride in standing up for “fairness” in the state.
“If you’re a biological male, you’re not going to participate in women’s and women’s sports in Alabama. It’s a matter of fairness, plain and simple,’ she wrote.
The bill expands previous legislation for K-12 schools, which places restrictions on anyone who is biologically male or female participating on an opposite-sex team.
The new version of the bill was quickly passed through the Statehouse after it was originally proposed in early April.
It does not limit co-ed sports teams or impose gender inspections on students.
In a tweet on Tuesday, ESPN shared news of the latest ban, writing, “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation Tuesday banning transgender women from playing on women’s college sports teams.”
Ivey responded in a pointed tweet calling out the network for what she said was inaccurate coverage.
‘Let me fix this, @espn. * Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed a law banning biological MEN from playing on FEMALE sports teams in college,’ Ivey replied.
In a tweet, ESPN wrote, “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation Tuesday banning transgender women from playing on women’s college sports teams.”
Ivey responded in a tweet calling out the network for what she said was inaccurate coverage
“We should especially protect our children from these radical, life-altering drugs and surgeries when they are at such a vulnerable stage of life,” Ivey said in April.
In early April, Ivey made headlines for signing a bill making it a crime for doctors to help minors transition between genders.
“We should especially protect our children from these life-altering radical drugs and surgeries when they are at such a vulnerable stage of life,” she said.
“Instead, let’s focus on helping them properly grow into the adults God intended them to be,” the Republican governor said.
Alabama’s Compassionate and Vulnerable Child Protection Act has made it a crime for doctors to perform medical procedures or prescribe drugs to minors who wish to alter their appearance, gender or delay puberty. .
Doctors assisting children risk up to 10 years in prison.
The legislation also banned puberty blockers, which it says can lead to infertility and other health risks for children.
At the time, Democrats who opposed the bill said it contradicted Republican principles of small government.
“It’s not a small government; it’s not a Conservative bill,’ Democratic Rep. Neil Rafferty told the chamber.
Less than a week later, however, an Alabama judge stepped in and blocked the law.
“Enjoining the Act affirms and reaffirms the ‘enduring American tradition’ that parents – not states or federal courts – play the primary role in the upbringing and care of their children,” Justice Liles wrote. Burke in his decision.
Federal Judge Liles Burke issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, blocking portions of Alabama’s Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act from taking effect.
The debate in Alabama echoes similar arguments unfolding across the country.
Over the weekend, California sports officials fired protesters outraged by the inclusion of transgender athletes at an event at a state high school.
Several transgender athletes were scheduled to run but did not show up.
THE women are real The Twitter account showed they were chased by an official from the California Interscholastic Federation track and field championships.
Protesters arrived with banners in tow reading ‘PROTECT FEMALE SPORTS’ and ‘SPEAK UP 4 GIRLS.’
Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives passed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s and women’s sports.
The bill is not expected to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
