Photo: Sen. Missy Irvin
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – An Arkansas Senate panel on Monday advanced legislation banning transgender girls and women athletes from competing in sports consistent with their gender identity, despite supporters saying they can’t cite an example of that happening in the state.
The Senate Education Committee voted 5-3 in favor of the measure, sending it to the full majority-Republican Senate. Opponents of the measure could be heard chanting “shame” outside the committee room after the bill was endorsed.
Similar legislation has been introduced in at least 20 states so far this year. Idaho was the only state to pass a similar law last year, but it has been blocked in federal court as a lawsuit plays out.
“This is a bill to protect women’s sports and girl’s sports,” Republican Sen. Missy Irvin, the bill’s sponsor, told the panel before the vote. “This is about giving women the opportunity they have fought for for over 50 years under Title IX policies.”
The Arkansas Activities Association said it doesn’t track transgender athletes participating in the state. The organization’s rules say it will accept a birth certificate changed under state law to determine an athlete’s gender. The NCAA has a policy allowing transgender athletes to compete.
But opponents of the bill said it would have damaging effects on transgender youth by not allowing them to participate in activities with fellow students.
“This legislation relies on the separation of trans youth from their peers,” Brody Craig, an educator who is also transgender told the panel.
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