Louisiana bans transgender athletes from girls, women's sports

A bill barring transgender athlete in Louisiana from competing in girls and women’s sports will become law as a result of the state's Democratic governor declining to veto or sign the measure. 

Louisiana Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards opposed the bill but said Monday that he would allow it to become law by not signing it because it would inevitably become one, considering the widespread support in the House and Senate.

'I think it's unfortunate, but it's where we are," he said. "And I hope we can all get to a point soon where we realize that these young people are doing the very best that they can to survive. I just think we can be better than that bill."

Similar legislation has been passed in at least 17 states.

The law, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, will require Louisiana K-12 schools and colleges to designate sports teams based on the biological sex assigned at birth of the team members, according to The Hill newspaper. 

Supporters of the bill, like similar ones in states across the country, say inherent biological differences between males and females give transgender athletes playing in women and girls sports an unfair advantage.