Texas introduces anti-trans bill

Republican lawmakers in Texas, US, have filed a bill which would prevent trans woman from playing on single-sex sports teams in public schools and colleges. According to the Texas Tribune, House Bill 1458, otherwise known as ‘A separation of athletics teams based on biological sex’, was filed by state representative, Valoree Swanson, and states only students of the same biological sex can play on the same sports team.

In a statement, Swanson said the bill was designed at ‘protecting women’: “This bill is a common sense measure that is sadly necessary in a world where male athletes are robbing women of both championship trophies and educational opportunities.” Florida recently introduced a similar bill known as the ‘Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021’. It was put forward by rep. Greg Steube who argued: “By forcing biological female athletes to compete against biological male athletes in competitive sports, we are taking away women’s opportunities on and off the field. These unfair policies discount the hard work and determination put in by our female athletes and give biological male athletes an unfair advantage in joining teams, setting records and earning scholarships.”

Despite the proposed laws in Texas and Florida, president Joe Biden recently signed an executive order which prohibits discrimination against trans students, thus ensuring them access to single-sex spaces and sports facilities. The order states: “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports. It is the policy of my administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.” Therefore, states which bar trans girls and women from could risk losing federal funding.