ND lawmakers examine restrictions on transgender women in sports

A Senate committee is studying a bill that would restrict transgender high school student athletes from participating on high school teams that are exclusively for the opposite sex.

HB 1298 has already passed the House.

Supporters say it will insure fair competition for girls’ sports, by not allowing a transgender male from competing.   They claim it upholds Title IX (9) – a federal law that protects people from discrimination on the basis of sex in school programs and activities that receive federal funds.

Opponents argued some of those presumptions are based on 50 year old science. Dr. Kathy Anderson of Bismarck is the president of the North Dakota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She told the Committee the bill would penalize children for things they have no control over.

The Committee did not take immediate action.

NDPPR/KNOX