Idaho legislators are blazing a bill that will ban trans girls from participating in school athletics. (Stock photograph via Elements Envato)
For some strange reason amid panic around the coronavirus pandemic, Republican lawmakers in Idaho met Monday to push forward a “mean-spirited” bill banning trans and intersex girls from competing in school athletics.
And with that, the coronavirus was cured!
Who knew that young trans teens participating in sports was the cause of all misery in the world, thank goodness these legislators work hard to keep all zero of those pesky trans athletes competing in the state off school race tracks.
We are obviously kidding here, and local activists are similarly frustrated by the move that, if signed into law by governor Brad Little, will be the first anti-trans bill passed in the state this year, Vox reported.
What does the bill mean?
It’s trying to tackle a ‘problem’ that “does not exist”, activists say, and no one knows why they are caring about it when nearly 8,000 people have died of COVID-19 and the virus has sickened nearly 200,000.
Anyway.
According to the bill’s text, if a young girl’s sex is challenged by an opposing coach, administrator, or parent, it can be proven by presenting “a signed physician’s statement that shall indicate the student’s sex based solely on: The student’s internal and external reproductive anatomy; the student’s normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; an analysis of the student’s genetic makeup.’
“This bill attempts to solve a problem that does not exist while slamming the door shut for transgender student-athletes to fully participate in their school communities,” said Kathy Griesmyer, policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, in a statement.
“Idaho has not seen any issues with trans girls competing in the girl’s sports.
“This unconstitutional and mean-spirited bill prevents trans girls from finding community and self-esteem in sports and will certainly result in litigation to defend the civil rights of Idaho’s transgender community.”
Schools in Idaho have not closed as legislators grapple to what extent they can restrict people’s daily lives.
While waves of schools and colleges have closed worldwide, it’s good to know where Idaho lawmaker’s priorities lie.