What's Going On With This Transgender Athlete Bill?

Summarizing the transgender athlete initiative sweeping the nation and how it will impact sports going forward.

I’m sure you’ve heard rumbles around this transgender bill that’s going around the country.

But what’s actually going on and what does it mean for the future of sports?

Let me summarize it for you.

Where it All Started

Last week, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem released a national advertisement promoting legislation that targets transgender youths.

The measure would prevent trans girls from playing on any female sports teams at school, including club teams.

Kristi Noem @KristiNoem

In South Dakota, only girls play girls’ sports. Watch my new ad that debuts during prime time news programs across the country tonight about my bill that will give South Dakota the strongest law protecting female sports in the nation!

Noem, the first woman to serve as South Dakota governor, said it would be "the strongest law in the nation protecting female sports."

From what I could gather, she wants to keep female sports fair and not lose out on the ability to earn athletic scholarships or go pro.

Seems reasonable to me.

Some Notable Events That Sparked This

The referees face says it all.

In 2018, Transgender male Mack Beggs won state titles in girls’ wrestling competitions after he was told he could not compete as a boy in Texas.

In 2019, Cece Telfer became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title while competing for Franklin Pierce University.

In 2019, transgender high school students Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller sparked controversy after dominating female track competitions in Connecticut, which is one of more than a dozen states that allow transgender high school athletes to compete without restrictions.

This past year, Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer at Penn, broke the Ivy League record and set new school records in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle.

Thomas previously competed as a man for three years on the school's men's team.

So what are the rules?

Legislation

Every state and sports institution is different.

NCAA rules state that a trans woman can't compete with women until after undergoing testosterone suppression treatment for a year.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) updated its guidelines on transgender athletes in November, removing policies that required competing trans athletes to undergo what it described as “medically unnecessary” procedures or treatment.

30 states introduced restrictions on trans athletes last year. Ten states have passed laws restricting trans athletes.

My Thoughts

I think you’ll know how I feel about this.

Like come on…seriously.

Of course it’s not fair for “men” to compete in women’s sports.

The common theme we’re seeing is failed male athletes, switching to female sports and thinking they’re cool because they finally “win” something. Ridiculous.

I think Governor Kristi Noem pushing this initiative is a good thing, albeit I do recognize this is an election year and part of her campaign message - props to her for getting national coverage, I had never heard of her before this.

Sources:

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/sd-gov-kristi-noem-releases-national-ad-targeting-transgender-student-rcna12122

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2022/01/21/stt-it-felt-like-i-was-running-with-a-giant-utah-transgender-sports-bill-seeks-even-playing-field-for-girls/#.Ye7BzvXMKLo

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gov-noem-trans-athlete-bill-strongest-womens-sports

https://www.nytimes.com/article/transgender-athlete-ban.html