June 5, 2023 Group Watch: New AL Law Bans Transgender Women from Collegiate Female Sports
Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation that will ban transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college, making Alabama the latest state to place restrictions on transgender athletes. She says the law is about “fairness,” and the legislation expands the state’s existing 2021 ban on transgender athletes on K-12 sports teams to include college teams. Students assigned one sex at birth would be prohibited from playing under a different gender identity, even after undergoing hormone treatment. This bill is part of a wave of restrictions on transgender people being pushed in conservative states. At least 20 states have now imposed restrictions on transgender athletes at the K-12 or collegiate level, or both. Alabama lawmakers approved bills restricting bathroom and locker room usage and a ban on the use of gender-affirming hormones and puberty blockers to treat transgender minors. A judge has temporarily blocked the medication ban from taking effect while a court challenge goes forward.
