Sen. Beth Mizell (R) District 12
A bill to limit transgender participation in sports passes unanimously from Senate Education. Bill Author Senator Beth Mizell said the bill protects women’s sports by banning transgender females from competing with females because she said they have a physical advantage. Mizell quoted Female Powerlifter Beth Stelzer in her opening remarks.
“If males identify as transgender can compete on women’s sports teams and in women’s sporting events. There will be men’s sports, there will be coed sports, but there will no longer be women’s sports,” said Mizell.
Child psychologist Dr. Clifton Mixon however spoke in opposition of the bill claiming language in the bill is divisive and sets a damaging tone against an already vulnerable population.
“This legislation puts all of these different communities at risk and sends a message that they are less important. This is discrimination and it has a harmful impact on children’s psychological well-being, carrying on far into the future,” said Mixon.
Melissa Flournoy, with Louisiana Progress Action, said the bill is trying to create a problem where there isn’t one, and passage of any antitransgender bills endangers the state of losing NCAA tournaments.
“The NCAA has already said that it will not go to states that pass these types of laws. So, is this bill necessary? No,” said Flournoy.
Mizell said no one wants to treat anyone with inequity but said there is not an equal situation physically when transgender females compete with females.
“I think we’re in a scary place when the NCAA dictates how we treat our female athletes,” said Mizell.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for debate.
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