A bill has been signed into law prohibiting transgender girls from taking part in female sports in schools, Reuters reports.

The bill, set to take effect on January 18, was signed into law on Monday, October 25, by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and bans trans girls in public schools from playing sports alongside cisgender girls.

Those in favor of the bill say that it is supposed to ensure there is fairness in school sports. They believe trans girls have an inherent physical advantage over their cisgender peers.

Equal rights advocates, however, have branded such measures as discriminatory. They argue there is little to no evidence that transgender girls have an innate advantage.

This certainly isn't the first bill of this nature - similar measures have been taken in other conservative parts of the US. In fact, seven other states have seen the passage of similar laws just this year, per Reuters.

In March 2020, Idaho prohibited athletes who were assigned male at birth from competing on sports teams against athletes who were assigned female at birth in public schools or colleges.

However, the enforcement of the law has been blocked by a federal court as it awaits the outcome of a legal challenge against the ban.

Other states whose legislation has mirrored the Idaho law include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, and West Virginia. South Dakota's governor, however, acted by executive order. Some of these states are also experiencing a challenge by the courts.

At least 35 bills with the aim of barring transgender youngsters from the world of sport have been put forward in 31 states this year - an increase from 29 in 2020 and two in 2019, according to statistics by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Texas law has been condemned by trans activists online, with LGBTQ writer Charlotte Clymer tweeting: "Greg Abbott just signed a bill in Texas this evening that bans trans children and student-athletes from competing on sports teams that align with their authentic gender identity.

"Overruling medical experts and iconic women athletes like Megan Rapinoe and Billie Jean King."

Another wrote: "Texas is so broken by hatred I don't know if it'll ever be a normal state. For shame."

Featured image credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Bob Daemmrich Photography / Alamy

California has banned state-funded travel to five more states over their latest anti-trans legislation, the New York Times reports.

State attorney general Rob Bonta announced on Monday, June 28, that Florida, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia were being added to the list of states where California state employees will not be permitted to travel for work.

The move was motivated by an aim to tackle transphobia as the five states launch "a coordinated attack on fundamental civil rights."

Florida, Arkansas, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia are among the growing number of states to pass anti-trans bills, which prevent transgender children from taking part in school sports.

With the new additions, 17 states in total have been added to California's state travel ban, which Bonta declared was "about aligning our dollars with our values."

The other 12 states on the list include Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

"Make no mistake: We’re in the midst of an unprecedented wave of bigotry and discrimination in this country - and the State of California is not going to support it," Bonta added, per Fox 13 News.

These lawmakers "would rather demonize trans youth than focus on solving real issues like tackling gun violence beating back this pandemic and rebuilding our economy," he continued.

The travel ban was first enacted in 2016 as a direct response to legislation, passed in states such as North Carolina, that prevented transgender people from using bathrooms that matched their gender identity.

Essentially, the aim is to bring an end to state-funded travel to states with laws that discriminate against people on the basis of sex, gender identity, or sexuality.

California lawmakers have openly stated that the move is "largely symbolic" but maintain that the intention behind it is to protect state workers from being sent to states where they could face discrimination.

"Is this more symbolic than actually an economic driving force? Most certainly so," Evan Low, who co-sponsored the bill, told the New York Times in 2017.

"But it allows the conversation to continue to occur to say, 'Wow, these states really don’t value the basic, fundamental rights of all of its citizens?'"

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West Virginia has become the subject of a federal lawsuit after the state's new anti-trans sports bill was signed into law.

The governor of West Virginia, Republican Jim Justice, signed the controversial legislation into law in May in spite of the backlash similar laws have received in other states.

Per CNN, civil rights groups sued the state on Wednesday, June 2, arguing in court documents that a ban on transgender women and girls in sports unconstitutionally "discriminates on the basis of sex and transgender status."

The suit objects to a measure that bans transgender girls and women in the state from playing on sports teams at "any public secondary school or state institution of higher education."

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, LGBTQ advocacy group Lambda Legal and Cooley LLP filed the lawsuit on behalf of an 11-year-old trans girl named Becky Pepper-Jackson.

As per the lawsuit, Becky, an elementary school student, was on the cheerleading team at her school and "wants to continue playing sports in middle school by participating on the girls' cross country and track teams".

Under the new law, the youngster can legally be excluded from playing sports in middle school "simply because she is transgender".

While Becky is referred to as B.P.J. in the lawsuit, she has been named and quoted in an ACLU press release.

She said in the release, per CNN: "I just want to run, I come from a family of runners. I know how hurtful a law like this is to all kids like me who just want to play sports with their classmates, and I'm doing this for them. Trans kids deserve better."

The lawsuit is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to give Becky a chance "to experience the benefits of athletic participation consistent with her gender identity and without being singled out from other girls for different treatment simply because she is transgender."

"We look forward to showing in court that this law should be enjoined as unlawful and that Becky should have the same opportunity to play sports as any other child," said Kathleen Hartnett of Cooley LLP, per the outlet.

Featured image credit: West Virginia Governor / Alamy

Three female high school track runners have filed a federal lawsuit this week, which aims to block trans women athletes in Connecticut from participating in girl's sports.

Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, and Alana Smith, who attend Glastonbury High School, Canton High School, and Danbury High School respectively, in a collaboration with the conservative pressure group Alliance Defending Freedom, each claim that allowing female transgender pupils the opportunity to compete in cis female teams gives the trans runners an unfair biological advantage.

Recently, Governor J. B. Pritzker signed a bill to protect the rights of trans students in Illinois:

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According to the suit, two trans female students named Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood have frequently outperformed their cisgender competitors since coming out and joining the track team; winning 15 girls state indoor or outdoor championship races since 2017.

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According to a report by NBC News, Alanna Smith (daughter of former Major League pitcher Lee Smith) has delivered a statement to the press regarding her lawsuit, in which she alleges:

"Mentally and physically, we know the outcome before the race even starts. That biological unfairness doesn't go away because of what someone believes about gender identity. All girls deserve the chance to compete on a level playing field."

In the video below, posted to the Alliance Defending Freedom YouTube channel, Alanna Smith speaks out her experience (some people may find the video upsetting):

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Meanwhile, attorney Christiana Holcomb stated: "Forcing girls to be spectators in their own sports is completely at odds with Title IX, a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics. Connecticut’s policy violates that law and reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women."

However, Bloomfield High School senior Terry Miller has responded in a press release via the ACLU, saying:

"I have faced discrimination in every aspect of my life and I no longer want to remain silent. I am a girl and I am a runner. I participate in athletics just like my peers to excel, find community, and meaning in my life. It is both unfair and painful that my victories have to be attacked and my hard work ignored.

"Living in a state that protects my rights is something that I do not take for granted. So many young trans people face exclusion at school and in athletics and it contributes to the horrible pain and discrimination that my community faces. The more we are told that we don’t belong and should be ashamed of who we are, the fewer opportunities we have to participate in sports at all. And being an athlete can help us survive.

"But instead, we are being told to be quiet, to go home, to stop being who we are.

"I will continue to fight for all trans people to compete and participate consistent with who we are. There is a long history of excluding Black girls from sports and policing our bodies. I am a runner and I will keep running and keep fighting for my existence, my community, and my rights."

The conservative group, Alliance Defending Freedom, released this video of Selina Soule's story in defense of the suit: 

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Meanwhile, Yearwood also provided a statement via the ACLU, saying:

"I have known two things for most of my life: I am a girl and I love to run.

There is no shortage of discrimination that I face as a young Black woman who is transgender. I have to wake up every day in a world where people who look like me face so many scary and unfair things. I am lucky to live in a state that protects my rights and to have a family that supports me. This is what keeps me going.

"Every day I train hard - I work hard to succeed on the track, to support my teammates, and to make my community proud. It is so painful that people not only want to tear down my successes, but take down the laws and policies that protect people like me.

"I will never stop being me! I will never stop running! I hope that the next generation of trans youth doesn't have to fight the fights that I have. I hope they can be celebrated when they succeed not demonized. For the next generation, I run for you!"

Dwyane Wade has revealed that he moved his family out of Florida over the state's recent LGBTQIA+ policies.

The former pro NBA player - who was on the Miami Heat team for the majority of his almost 20-year sports career - admitted that being a father to a transgender daughter influenced his decision to leave the state.

Wade, 41 - who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame - recently sat down with Rachel Nichols for her show 'Headliners' where he spoke about his decision to leave Florida with his family.

When asked what message he'd send to state legislators, Wade responded with: "That's another reason why I don't live in [Florida]. A lot of people don't know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions."

News that Wade has moved out of Florida comes amid the state's governor, Ron DeSantis' recent controversial legislation - which has included the so-called Don't Say Gay bill. The law says public school teachers may not instruct on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades kindergarten through to third grade.

Given this - among multiple other laws - Wade told Nichols that his family wouldn't be comfortable in Florida. "You know, obviously, the taxes is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And, so that's one of the reasons why I don't live there," he said, via TMZ.

Wade's 15-year-old daughter Zaya came out as transgender in 2020, something that he and his wife Gabrielle Union have fully supported. Zaya has legally changed her name and gender since embracing her identity.

Last month, Union told DAZED Magazine about how much she supports her stepdaughter. "I think it's not my job, but it's my honor to continue and further my family's education and appreciation for the entire LBGTQ+ community as we grow together. As our understanding of acceptance has broadened over the past couple of years, we have made the strides to keep ourselves educated and combat the ignorance."

Wade has criticized his ex-wife Siohvaughn - Zaya's mom - for not being "supportive" of their daughter's transition. "While it certainly would have been preferable for Zaya's mother to be supportive of this important part of Zaya's journey, Zaya should not be forced to put her life on hold while she waits for Siohvaughn to acknowledge and accept her truth," he said, via Page Six.

He also added that the legal changes to Zaya's identity would act in her "best interest … from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver's license and filling out college applications."

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