The Virginia House of Delegates introduced a bill Monday, which would prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in sports for women at any level at Virginia schools.
“The goal of House Bill 1837 is to safeguard our young girls and women from having to compete against males who are biological,” Delegate Karen Greenhalgh (R-Virginia Beach) declared. “Similarly skilled and well-trained men will have an advantage in physical strength over females. This is why we have female sports for women.”
Yesterday, @PPMW_DC was in Richmond to support pieces of legislation that would ensure no co-pay contraception for Virginia women, prohibit health insurance plans from denying coverage to transgender folks, and ensure coverage for reproductive healthcare! #PinkOutVA pic.twitter.com/NopvJEhOa5
— Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, MD & NoVa (@PPADMV) February 1, 2019
A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee approved on party lines to advance House Bill 1387 up to the entire committee on education. It is a controversial law, backed by Greenhalgh and Greenhalgh, that would prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on any “interscholastic or intramural, intercollegiate or club athletic group” at any college or school in the state.
“Even the best, most fast girls from Virginia need to get on the line and say”I’m not a winner,'” said Greenhalgh. “Their goals are no longer there and their chances of winning and recognition , and scholarships. It’s not right for women to be denied these chances.”
The law will make transgender athletes of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to play sports that are aligned with their biological sexual orientation. If it passes, the law will be applicable to all athletes starting in Kindergarten to 12th grade at universities and public colleges as well as intercollegiate or interscholastic, as well as club and club sports.
In the current Virginia High School League (VHSL) rules transgender athletes seeking to have their identities recognized in competition must submit documentation of their transition. This includes the names of medications taken. The final decision will be left to the VHSL district committee that will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Since the adoption of these rules in 2014, transgender students have registered and 25 were granted the right to participate in teams that are aligned with their gender identity.
Republicans have control of the Virginia House of Delegates by 51-47. However, Democrats have a 22-18 majority in the state Senate which leaves the future of the bill outside the Virginia house in doubt.
On his first day in office, Biden issued an executive directive which required that students participate on teams according to their gender identity. In the wake of President Obama’s decision on transgender athletes numerous legislation has emerged from more than 2 dozen different states.
In 2021, legislators in the states of at least 24 have proposed the same legislation in order to guarantee that participation in female sports can be based upon female biological traits rather than gender-based identification.
“Title IX has established equal and fair opportunity for girls and women to participate, and sports shouldn’t be any one-sided affair,” senator. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga. said, referring to the provision that is part of the Education Amendments of 1972 that bans discrimination based on gender in federally funded educational programs.
“As one who has learned valuable life lessons and gained confidence through sports all through my entire life, I’m incredibly proud to be the leader of this legislation that will ensure girls of all ages have the same opportunities. This sensible bill will protect women and girls by ensuring fairness and ensuring equality on the playing field for athletes which Title IX guarantees.”
