A bill banning transgender women from playing youth sports is advancing in the Kansas state legislature. House Bill 2238 passed with 82 state representatives voting in favor and 40 against. HB2238 is also called The Fairness in Women’s Sports bill. According to the Kansas legislative website, it would create “the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to require that female student athletic teams include only biologically female members.” The executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA) says three transgender students are playing on the high school teams in Kansas right now. That number is about to become zero. On Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers heard the introduction of HB2238 on the floor. It was voted on Thursday morning, “and the final vote was 82 to 40,” said Rep. Barb Wasinger, a Bill supporter. “I’m trying to make the sport competitive and fair for women,” Wasinger said. “and it has nothing to do with trying to hurt any other person in the state.” She recalled her days in high school sports before Title IX made more sports available to girls and women. Wasinger said he was trying to safeguard the sport for them today. “KSHAA and the NCAA haven’t protected women. They haven’t cared about women’s rights, their privacy, as well as their ability to compete fairly in the sports field. They really leave a lot open and they don’t address,” Wasinger said. Opponents, like Overland Park Representative Stephanie Clayton, say it hurts. “I find that unnecessary and frankly threatening to trans students and Kansas,” Clayton told KMBC Thursday morning between grades. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a similar attempt last year and lawmakers didn’t get the 84 votes needed for a supermajority, which would have overturned it. More than 100 people have testified for the bill. Seven of these were in favour. HB 2238’s opponents are hoping it happens again. “While something may appear to be moving quickly,” Rep. Clayton explained, “understand the difference between a simple majority and a 2/3 majority.” A similar bill is now making its way to the Kansas Senate.
A bill banning transgender women from playing youth sports is advancing in the Kansas state legislature.
House Bill 2238 passed with 82 state representatives voting in favor and 40 against.
HB2238 is also called The Fairness in Women’s Sports bill. According to the Kansas legislative website, it would create “the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to require that female student athletic teams include only members who are biologically female.”
The executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA) says three transgender students are playing on high school teams in Kansas right now.
That number is about to become zero.
On Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers heard HB2238 being introduced to the floor. It was voted on Thursday morning, “and the final vote was 82 to 40,” said Rep. Barb Wasinger, a Bill supporter.
“I’m trying to make the sport competitive and fair for women,” Wasinger said. “and it has nothing to do with trying to hurt any other person in the state.”
She recalled her days in high school sports before Title IX made more sports available to girls and women.
Wasinger said he was trying to safeguard the sport for them today.
“KSHAA and the NCAA haven’t protected women. They haven’t cared about women’s rights, their privacy, as well as their ability to compete fairly in the sports field. They really leave a lot open and they don’t address,” Wasinger said.
Opponents, like Overland Park Representative Stephanie Clayton, say it hurts.
“I find that unnecessary and frankly threatening to trans students and Kansas,” Clayton told KMBC Thursday morning between grades.
This isn’t the first time lawmakers have tried to take this shot — and failed. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a similar effort last year and lawmakers didn’t have the 84 votes needed for a supermajority, which would have overturned it.
More than 100 people have testified for the bill. Seven of these were in favour. HB 2238’s opponents are hoping it happens again. “While something may appear to be moving quickly,” Rep. Clayton explained, “understand the difference between a simple majority and a 2/3 majority.”
A similar bill is now making its way to the Kansas Senate.
