Alabama bans trans athletes in college sports

Ivey, in signing the legislation, contended it is necessary to preserve equal competition in athletes.

Published: May 30, 2023 7:05pm

Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed into law a ban on biological men participating in female college sports.

The state already bars transgender participation in K-12 sports teams and has done so since 2021, according to ESPN. The legislation does not include exceptions for athletes who have undergone hormone treatments.

The bill reached Ivey's desk with overwhelming support from the Republican-dominated legislature, which passed it 26-4 in the Senate and 83-5 in the state House.

Ivey, in signing the legislation, contended it is necessary to preserve equal competition in athletes.

"Look, if you are a biological male, you are not going to be competing in women's and girls' sports in Alabama. It's about fairness, plain and simple," she said.

The Alabama law has drawn criticism from LGBTQ advocates, who say it is discriminatory.

Twenty-one states have barred transgender athletes from participating on sports teams that do not align with their sex at least from K-12, according to the left-wing Movement Advancement Project.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.

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