Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a law banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports on university and college campuses.
The Republican signed HB261 – a bill aimed at prohibiting ‘biological male from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for female’ – on Tuesday.
In a statement after the signing, Ivey said she is proud to be ‘protecting female athletes at all levels and upholding the integrity of athletics.’
The signing comes less than two months after she signed another bill that makes it a felony in Alabama to give children medication to alter their sex.
‘I believe very strongly if the good Lord made you a boy, you are a boy, and if he made you a girl, you are 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 nation.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill that bans trans athletes from competing against women in college sports
Recently, California athletic officials removed protesters who were outraged at the inclusion of transgender athletes at a state high school event
‘If you’re a biological male, you are not going to be competing in women’s and girl’s sports in Alabama. It’s about fairness, plain and simple,’ Gov Ivey wrote in a tweet
On Tuesday, the governor tweeted out her thoughts regarding the controversial bill, sharing her pride in upholding ‘fairness’ in the state.
‘If you’re a biological male, you are not going to be competing in women’s and girl’s sports in Alabama. It’s about fairness, plain and simple,’ she wrote.
The bill expands upon previous legislation for K-12 schools, which puts restrictions on anyone biologically male or female competing on an opposite-sex team.
The new version of the bill moved quickly through the statehouse after being initially proposed in early April.
It does not limit any coed sports teams or enforce inspections of students’ genders.
In a tweet Tuesday, ESPN shared the news of the latest ban, writing: ‘Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college.’
Ivey responded in a pointed tweet calling out the network for what she said was inaccurate coverage.
‘Let me fix that, @espn. *Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban biological MEN from playing on FEMALE sports teams in college,’ Ivey wrote back.
In a tweet, ESPN wrote: ‘Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college’
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 in life,’ Ivey said in April
In early April, Ivey made headlines for signing a bill making it a felony for doctors to assist minors in gender transition.
‘We should especially protect our children from these radical, life-altering drugs and surgeries when they are at such a vulnerable stage in life,’ she said.
‘Instead, let us focus on helping them to properly develop into the adults God intended them to be,’ said the Republican governor.
The Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act made it a felony for doctors to perform medical procedures or prescribe medication to minors who want to alter their appearance, gender or delay puberty.
Doctors who assist children could face up to 10 years in prison.
The legislation also banned puberty blockers, which it says can cause infertility and other health risks for children.
At the time, Democrats who opposed the bill said it contradicted Republican principles of small government.
‘This is not small government; this is 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 upholds and reaffirms the “enduring American tradition” that parents – not the states or federal courts – play the primary role in nurturing and caring for their children,’ Judge Liles Burke wrote in his decision.
Federal Judge Liles Burke issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, blocking parts of the Alabama’s Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act from taking effect
The debate in Alabama echoes similar arguments happening around the country.
Over the weekend, California athletic officials removed protesters who were outraged at the inclusion of transgender athletes at a state high school event.
Multiple transgender athletes were scheduled to race but did not show up.
The Women Are Real Twitter account showed them being chased out by an official for the California Interscholastic Federation State Track & Field Championships.
Protesters arrived with banners in tow reading ‘PROTECT FEMALE SPORTS’ and ‘SPEAK UP 4 GIRLS.’
Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girl’s sports.
The bill is not expected to be voted on in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
