NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today the Tennessee Senate passed two bills intended to prevent transgender student athletes from competing.
SB 2153/HB 2316 would prohibit transgender women from playing sports in any public higher education institution in the state. This legislation will next face a vote in the Tennessee House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee on April 13.
SB 1861/HB 1895 withholds funds from public K-12 school districts that choose to affirm trans athletes and let them play. This bill passed the House on April 4, 2022.
Henry Seaton, ACLU of Tennessee transgender justice advocate had this reaction:
“Tennessee’s elected officials have failed thousands of their own today by passing these bills. Every young person deserves the opportunity to participate in sports to challenge themselves, improve fitness, and be part of a team. Telling transgender students that they can't participate as who they really are amounts to excluding them from sports entirely – depriving them of opportunities available to their peers and sending the message that they are not worthy of a full life.
“It is deeply disturbing to watch legislators attempt to wipe trans people out of public spaces under the guise of ‘protecting women and girls.’ ACLU-TN is committed to promoting fair treatment of all women and girls, including trans women and girls, and we will continue to fight until trans people are accepted in all aspects of life. Trans people belong – not only in sports, but everywhere.”
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