Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports on college and high school campuses.
The Republican signed HB261 on Tuesday — a bill to “ban biological men from participating in any athletic team or sport designated for women.”
In a statement after the signing, Ivey said she is proud to “protect female athletes at all levels and uphold the integrity of athletics.”
The signing comes less than two months after she signed another bill that would make it a felony in Alabama to give children drugs to change their sex.
“I believe very strongly that if the good God made you a boy, you are a boy, and if he made you a girl, you are a girl,” Ivey said at the time.
Tuesday’s new law comes as debate over whether trans athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s events continues across the country.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill banning trans athletes from competing against women in college sports
California athletic officials recently removed protesters outraged by the participation of transgender athletes in an event at a public high school
“If you’re a biological male, you’re not going to participate in women’s and girls’ sports in Alabama. It’s about honesty, plain and simple,” Governor Ivey wrote in a tweet
On Tuesday, the governor tweeted her thoughts on the controversial bill, sharing her pride for upholding “fairness” in the state.
“If you’re a biological male, you’re not going to participate in women’s and girls’ sports in Alabama. It’s about honesty, simple and straightforward,” she wrote.
The bill builds on previous legislation for K-12 schools, which placed restrictions on anyone who is biologically male or female participating on an opposite-sex team.
The new version of the bill quickly passed the state house after it was initially proposed in early April.
It does not restrict coeducational sports teams or enforce inspections of student genders.
In a tweet on Tuesday, ESPN shared news of the latest ban, writing, “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a law on Tuesday banning transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college.”
Ivey responded in a targeted tweet calling out the network for what she said was inaccurate reporting.
“Let me fix that, @espn. “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law Tuesday banning biological MEN from playing on FEMALE sports teams in college,” Ivey wrote back.
In a tweet, ESPN wrote, “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law on Tuesday banning transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college”
Ivey responded in a tweet calling out the network for what she said was inaccurate reporting
“We especially need to protect our children from these radical, life-changing drugs and surgeries when they are in such a vulnerable stage of life,” Ivey said in April.
In early April, Ivey made headlines for signing a bill into law that would make it a criminal offense for doctors to assist minors with gender reassignment.
“We especially need to protect our children from these radical, life-changing drugs and surgeries when they are in such a vulnerable stage of life,” she said.
“Instead, let’s focus on helping them mature into the adults God intended them to be,” the Republican governor said.
The Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act made it a crime for physicians to perform medical procedures or prescribe medications to minors seeking to change their appearance, gender, or delay puberty.
Doctors who assist children can face up to 10 years in prison.
The legislation also banned puberty blockers, which the law says can cause infertility and other health risks for children.
Democrats opposed to the bill at the time said it contradicted Republican principles of small government.
“This is not a small government; this is not a conservative bill,” Democratic Representative Neil Rafferty told the chamber.
However, less than a week later, an Alabama judge stepped in and blocked the law.
“Imposing the law upholds and reaffirms the “enduring American tradition” that parents — not the state or federal courts — play the primary role in raising and caring for their children,” Judge Liles Burke wrote in his decision.
Federal Judge Liles Burke issued a preliminary injunction Friday, barring portions of Alabama’s Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act from taking effect.
The debate in Alabama mirrors similar arguments taking place across the country.
Over the weekend, California athletic officials removed protesters outraged by the inclusion of transgender athletes at a high school event.
Multiple transgender athletes were scheduled to race but failed to show up.
The Women are real Twitter account showed them being shooed away by a California Interscholastic Federation State Track & Field Championships official.
Protesters arrived with banners in tow “PROTECT FEMALE SPORTS” and “SPEAK UP 4 GIRLS.”
Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives passed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
The bill is not expected to be voted on in the Democratic-controlled Senate.