Indiana lawmakers are stepping up efforts to retain biological male athletes in boys’ and men’s sports.
The state’s current law, introduced in 2022, prohibits anyone born male from playing against girls from kindergarten through high school. This week, Republican Reps. Michelle Davis, Chris Jeter, Joanna King and Robert Heaton filed legislation to expand the ban to college teams.
“It is important that girls compete against girls and boys against boys to ensure a level playing field,” Davis wrote in a statement to Indy Star. “As a mother and legislator, I wrote this bill because I heard directly from Hoosier parents who want to make sure female athletes have a fair opportunity to compete and receive recognition.”
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The State Capitol building in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, on a sunny spring morning. (Education Images/Universal Image Group via Getty Images)
The state’s capital, Indianapolis, is where the NCAA headquarters are located.
The law also requires out-of-state teams with transgender athletes to provide at least 60 days’ notice to Indiana schools playing against those athletes. Athletes can also file lawsuits against schools if they believe they were robbed of an opportunity or injured due to a potential violation of the law.
Jeter, one of the co-authors, said the bill is intended to “protect women’s sports in Indiana.”
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb originally vetoed the bill nearly three years ago, but the Indiana General Assembly reversed that decision. Holcomb, a Republican, will leave office at the end of the month due to term limits and will be succeeded by fellow Republican Mike Braun.
Two months after Holcomb vetoed the bill, a federal judge in the state ruled that transgender students must be allowed to use boys’ restrooms at the state’s middle schools.
Riverside’s transgender athlete supporter Kyle Harp, left, holds a development pride flag as Riverside’s “Save Girls Sports” supporter Lori Lopez and her father, Pete Pickering, listen to the discussion as they join the overflow crowd gathered outside Riverside Unified School. there is. Thursday, December 19, 2024 Regional meeting Thursday night to discuss the rights of transgender athletes to participate in high school sports. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Last month, NCAA President Charlie Baker sent a message to women’s college athletes who were uncomfortable sharing locker rooms. with transgender athletesWomen are solely responsible for their own safety.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on legalized sports betting, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., asked Baker about sports betting. NCAA’s Policy Allowing trans athletes to compete on female teams. Hawley confronted Baker over the NCAA policy that “transgender student-athletes must be able to use locker rooms, showers, and restroom facilities consistent with their gender identity.”
Baker, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts, insisted other players had the option to find alternative accommodations if they were uncomfortable.
NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during a news conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of the NCAA national offices moving to Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. (Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar/USA Today Network)
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The NCAA saw controversy sweep the nation when trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming helped lead San Jose State University to the Mountain West championship game.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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