The North Carolina Senate has passed House Bill 574 which will prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. So far in 2023 more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in statehouses across the country. A total of 78 pieces of legislation have been enacted into law this year with more than 220 of these bills specifically designed to restrict the rights of transgender people which is the highest number of bills targeting transgender people in a single year to date. Advocates for women & girls in sports support trans-inclusive policies & oppose efforts to exclude transgender students from participating in sports. This includes the National Women’s Law Center, the Women’s Sports Foundation, Women Leaders in College Sports & others including prominent female athletes like Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe & Cheryl Reeve.Cathryn Oakley, Human Rights Campaign Senior Director for Legal Policy stated, “HB 574 is a targeted attack against the LGBTQ+ community & it’s a completely unnecessary bill. Women’s sports face many real challenges, including chronic underfunding, unequal pay, lack of access & harassment & abuse of athletes. None of those challenges are addressed by an attempt to prevent transgender students from participating in school sports alongside their friends.” Earlier this year the Biden Administration issued proposed rules affirming that Title IX protects transgender students from discrimination in athletics & that state laws banning participation of transgender athletes are violations of federal law. Also more than 300 major U.S. corporations have stood up & spoken out to oppose anti-LGBTQ legislation being proposed in states across the country.
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