(INDIANAPOLIS) – The bill to ban transgender girls from girls’ high school sports could go to Governor Holcomb as early as Tuesday.
Indiana would be the 11th state, and the second this month, to pass a transgender ban if the bill becomes law. Republicans argue transgender girls would warp competition in girls’ sports, and could cost other players both victories and scholarships.
Bloomington Democrat Shelli Yoder argues the focus belongs not on who wins, but on kids’ ability to build a sense of community the same way their classmates can. And Carmel Democrat J.D. Ford slams the bill as “unnecessary, unconstitutional and unkind.” He notes the IHSAA already has a policy based on transgender students’ bone density and body mass, and has never had to use it — the only instance of a transgender girl asking to compete on her high school team was handled at the local level.
The Senate Education Committee approved the bill on an 8-3 party-line vote, setting up a final vote in the full Senate.
