As a deluge of anti-trans bills make their way across the country, two states are one step closer to signing discriminatory legislation into law. On Thursday, Mississippi and North Dakota both advanced proposals that would prevent trans student athletes from competing in school sports in alignment with their gender identity.
Early in the day, the North Dakota House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of House Bill 1298, which would ban transgender minors under the age of 18 from playing on K-12 teams consistent with their sense of self. The proposal threatens to strip any state-funded entity of taxpayer dollars if it does not force students to participate according to the “sex indicated on the individual s original birth certificate.”
The full state House voted 65-26 on Thursday to advance House Bill 1298, a bill that would effectively ban transgender high school students from competing in hi
North Dakota House passes bill seen as targeting transgender student athletes bismarcktribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bismarcktribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
watch live
In addition, transgender youth advocates say any such change would be harmful to a population already vulnerable to depression, anxiety and suicidality.
The North Dakota legislation would bar high school and college athletes from participating in sports under any sex other than the one listed on their birth certificate.
Lead sponsor, Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, insists it has nothing to do with transgender athletes, but rather is about fairness in sports and preventing women from being disadvantaged by having to compete against men.
A committee discussed and set aside the bill, but it could come up at a later date.