A bill prohibiting trans athletes from participating in K-12 and college girl’s and women’s sports passes in the House 77-17. Jefferson Representative Laurie Schlegel said the bill seeks to protect biological females and ensure a fair competitive environment.
“So if we allow biological males to compete against biological females, women’s sports as we know it will no longer exist,” Schlegel said.
Opponents are concerned the bill would cause unintended economic consequences. Orleans Representative Royce DuPlessis said businesses might be less likely to invest in Louisiana if this makes it into law.
“Events that want to come to places like Louisiana and say well we aren’t into discriminating against transgender youths so we’re not going to bring our business there,” DuPlessis said.
Schlegel said this won’t be an issue since states who have already passed similar legislation are hosting sponsored sporting events.
“Actually the NCAA actually just scheduled tournaments in three states that just passed this legislation; Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee,” Schlegel said.
The bill has also been called discriminatory. Orleans representative Aimee Freeman said the legislation threatens to alienate an already vulnerable community.
“When your child is going through something and transitioning and you’re trying to be supportive, having them be able to be on a sports team is something positive for them,” Aimee Freeman said.
The bill is headed to the governor’s desk where it’s expected to be vetoed.
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