The state of Kansas has passed the bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in female sports - but, of course, opinions are seriously divided on the issue.
Now, this has been a heavily debated topic for quite some time.
Ever since the Olympics allowed trans athletes to compete in 2016, there has been a solid divide in opinion over the matter.
While many are supportive of the inclusion of transgender athletes...
Others argue that it is unfair towards other athletes competing in the sport.
The subject of transgender female athletes is certainly the most debated...
Hi Daniel, you can abuse me all you like but facts matter.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 17, 2020
a) I support fairness & equality for all trans people.
b) Allowing trans women athletes to compete against women born to female biological bodies is inarguably unfair, unequal & dangerous. https://t.co/shAPFFFXIA
With people like Piers Morgan arguing that female trans athletes have an "unfair advantage" due to the fact they were born with a male anatomy, consisting of testosterone and other male hormones that increase strength and stamina.
It has been argued that their competitors don't "stand a chance"...
I know this won't be popular but athletes born female cannot possibly compete on a level playing field with someone born male.
— Emma Louisa J 💕🥂🍾 (@Emmalouisajones) February 26, 2020
It's ludicrous and totally unfair to allow this to happen imo.
Meaning that many people feel that transgender athletes shouldn't be allowed to compete at all.
For instance, professional MMA fighter Ronda Rousey refused to fight trans fighter Fallon Fox in 2014.
"I feel like if you go through puberty as a man it's something that you can't really reverse. You can't just reverse that, there's no undo button on that. That's, unfortunately, her scenario," she said of her decision.
And New Zealand transgender weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard, faced a lot of criticism after she won a gold medal at the Pacific Games.
New Zealand-based lobby group, "Speak Up For Women," which advocates that sport must be categorized by sex rather than gender identity, called on the country's Olympic committee and sports minister to "defend women's sport."
"Kiwis (New Zealanders) know that males competing in women's sport is blatantly unfair," the group's spokesperson Ani O'Brien harshly said.
Nevertheless, transgender athletes are allowed to compete here in the United States...
And transgender girls are permitted to participate in sports that match their gender identity at schools and colleges across the country.
However, that has slowly been changing in certain states.
Last month, the State of Mississippi voted unanimously to ban young transgender athletes from competing in female sports in all schools and universities.
The initial vote took place on Thursday, February 11th, and won by thirty-six votes to 9.
4 people chose not to take part in the vote, while 5 voted "present," meaning they were not voting for or against the new legislation.
There was reportedly "very little discussion" before the vote took place in the Republican-led state...
And, according to AP, no one asked if any transgender athletes were currently competing in Mississippi, with the bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Angela Hill, not offering such information.
And now, just over a month later, Kansas has followed suit.
The state has today voted in favor of a similar bill, which will see transgender athletes fully banned from competing on female sports teams.
Of course, many are outraged by the vote...
The Kansas Senate would approve a bill making it illegal to be transgender if they could.
— Jenn the Menace (@super_girljk) March 18, 2021
And another step backwards for Kansas. Way to be an embarrassment yet again!
— Mayataua (@mayataua) March 18, 2021
There are five female transgender athletes wanting to compete in Kansas and this is the 10th bill trying to prevent it. If they actually cared about girls’ sports they’d propose 10 bills to advance funding for them instead of this transphobic nonsense.
— Madison Cawthorn is trash (@m_gautier0) March 18, 2021
However, others are pleased with the result.
Great news.
— JR (@jravnikar316) March 18, 2021
Thank you. Maybe women will still have high school and college sports.
— matt schrock (@SchrockMatt) March 17, 2021
As it should be! Nonsense.
— President - Dr. GayTexasConservDude (@GayTexasDude1) March 16, 2021
Yesterday, March 17th, the Kansas Republican-controlled Senate passed the "Fairness in Women Sports Act."
The vote was 24-10.
Republican Senator Molly Baumgardner, who sits as chair of the education committee, said as per Fox News:
Anti-trans legislators want you to believe that they’re saving women’s sports by discriminating against trans people.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 17, 2021
What they’re actually doing is hurting kids like Stella. pic.twitter.com/HR8KxLwmDp
"What we heard in testimony is that there are parents and there are student-athletes that want to compete against folks that have that same physical makeup."
The Kansas City Star reported that Senate President Ty Masterson argued the bill would ensure those who aren't transgender aren't the "underdogs" in teams.
"I know there's an emotion that exists in modern identity politics. Without those things this would be a very simple non-controversial bill," he said, before adding that it wasn't about "sexuality, it is not about orientation, it is not about identity, it is not about discrimination. What it is about very simply, fair competition in women's sports."
Make sure to stay posted for further updates.
