LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) – Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Thursday signed a law banning transgender women and girls from competing on school sports teams based on their gender identity, making the state in the second that has approved this restriction so far this year.
The Republican governor approved the measure despite objections of medical and child welfare groups that would have devastating impacts on transgender youth. Hundreds of college athletes they have also urged the NCAA to refuse to hold championships in states that enact such prohibitions.
“This law simply says that female athletes should not compete in a sport against a male student when the sport is designed for female competition,” Hutchinson said in a statement issued by his office. “As I said before, I agree with the intention of this law. This will help promote and maintain equity in women’s sporting events.
Republicans in at least 20 state legislatures have been pushing for similar bans this year. The Mississippi governor signed a ban to the law earlier this month. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem had initially said she would sign similar legislation being sent to her, but has since pushed for her change to exclude college sports. Arkansas law covers K-12 and college sports.
The head of the Campaign for Human Rights, the nation’s largest LGBTQ rights group, called Hutchinson’s decision “an affront not only to transgender children who will be forced to hurt, but to all Arkansans who they will be affected by its consequences “.
“Hutchinson ignores the ugly history of states that have dared to pass anti-transgender legislation in recent years, and in doing so exposes Arkansas to economic damage, costly taxpayer-funded legal battles, and a tarnished reputation,” said Alphonso David. , “the group ‘s chairman said in a statement.
Only one state, Idaho, has enacted a law limiting the sports participation of transgender students, and this 2020 measure is blocked by a court ruling when a lawsuit is filed. Opponents have not said whether they plan legal action to block the Arkansas ban.
“This law is a discriminatory and shameful attempt by politicians to stigmatize and exclude transgender teens,” Holly Dickson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Arkansas, said in a statement.
Arkansas law, if not blocked by a legal challenge, will go into effect this summer. Under the new law, a student or school that suffers “direct or indirect harm” could take a school to court for violating the ban.
The measure is among several transgender people aimed at advancing through the majority Republican legislature this year. Another bill on Hutchinson’s desk would allow doctors to refuse to treat someone for moral or religious reasons, according to a measure that opponents would allow to alienate LGBT patients.
A final vote on legislation banning gender confirmation surgery or treatment for minors is also expected next week.
The measures have gained support as a hate crime bill backed by Hutchinson has stalled, facing conservative resistance. The current version of the bill would impose additional sanctions for committing a crime against someone because of various characteristics, including gender identity or sexual orientation.
Arkansas is one of three states without a law on hate crimes.
When asked earlier this week about the message that measures targeting transgender people send to the LGBT community, Hutchinson said he hoped to send a welcome message by enacting a hate crime law.
“I want the message to be that we want to make sure that everyone is protected, that everyone is treated equally under the laws,” Hutchinson told reporters. “That’s very, very important, whether it’s transgender or some other trait.”
Hutchinson also signed the bill four years after opposing the legislation this would have banned people from using toilets in government buildings that do not match their gender at birth. This measure, which never advanced outside the committee, had provoked opposition from tourist groups who said it would harm the state’s economy.