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AUSTIN, Texas – A bill banning transgender student athletes from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity rather than their gender assigned at birth is passed to the governor. On Sunday, the House of Representatives accepted the changes made by the Senate, and Governor Greg Abbott signaled that he was ready to sign the bill.
What you need to know
- Bill restricting transgender student athletes from sports under gender identity heads to the governor
- The House of Representatives approved the Senate’s amendments on Sunday
- Critics protested the law at the Capitol this year
- According to the Trevor Project, more than 90% of LGBTQ youth said recent policies had a negative impact on their mental health
Critics came to the Capitol repeatedly this year to protest the legislation. They say it unfairly targets transgender children and puts them at risk of discrimination. Proponents say it’s about maintaining a balanced playing field.
Getting the bill through the House of Representatives turned out to be a major hurdle for lawmakers this year after lower-chamber legislation had failed so far. One of the people standing in his way was Harold Dutton, the chairman of the House Education Committee. He blocked similar bills from getting into the House plenary in the last special session and told Capital Tonight that he still didn’t feel the measure was necessary.
“I still think boys should play with boys and girls with girls, but as far as there’s an issue with transgender children playing sports or participating in UIL activities, I don’t think it’s a member of the legislature that can tell you the extent of this problem, ”said Dutton.
Major employers in the state have signaled their opposition to the bill, but Dutton said he had no idea how that could affect the state’s business climate.
“But I think that when we pass a bill, the legislature will be based on an identified problem rather than a ghost problem or someone trying to make up those boogeymans,” he said.
In the past year, more than 90% of LGBTQ youth said recent policies had a negative impact on their mental health. This emerges from the Trevor Project, which offers young LGBTQ people around the clock crisis support. Her toll free number is 866-488-7386.
Click the video link above to watch our full interview with Rep. Dutton.
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