Indiana state lawmakers are seeking to strengthen a pro-family law enacted in 2022 that bans gender-confused persons from competing in sports against members of the opposite sex at the high school level and below. If approved, this year’s HB 1041 would exclude self-professed “transgender” athletes from competing in college sports as well.
“While males and females are equal in worth, biological differences undeniably affect athletic performance. To ensure a level playing field, it’s important that girls compete against girls, and boys against boys,” GOP state Rep. Michelle Davis, the bill’s sponsor, told local media.
The 2022 bill that Davis also sponsored was vetoed by then-GOP Governor Eric Holcomb, whose term ended today. But the GOP-controlled Indiana Senate and House overrode him at the time.
Davis’ new measure is co-sponsored by three other state lawmakers. It would officially prohibit “a male, based on the student’s biological sex at birth in accordance with the student’s genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women’s, or girls’ athletic team or sport” at the post-secondary level.
The law also mandates that out-of-state teams inform the opposing Indiana-based school of any gender-confused players at least 60 days before their scheduled competition. State-funded colleges would be compelled to establish a “grievance” policy to settle situations where athletes say their rights are being infringed upon, with institutions that violate the law being subject to civil penalties.
The bill is planned to be introduced in the state’s House Education Committee this month.