(LEX 18) — A Kentucky state lawmaker has prefiled a bill that would block transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
The bill draft, prefiled by Representative Ryan Dotson (R-Winchester), would apply to public schools and universities. The measure says that participants for all athletic teams, activities, and sports would be based on the students' biological sex in order for them to compete.
"Simply put, I prefiled this legislation to protect the integrity of women's sports," Dotson said.
Dotson cited how sports can provide opportunities for women, specifically the ability to go to college, receive scholarships, and financial aid.
“We need to be realistic about the weight of these life-changing opportunities and ensure that fairness prevails.”
"Research shows that transgender women have a muscle-mass advantage over biological women, even if they take a testosterone suppressant," He added. "Allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports gives transgender women an unfair advantage."
Kentucky is one of 30 states debating such a bill.
The Kentucky High School Activities Association already has a policy in place for transgender athletes. The KHSAA policy states that each student-athlete must participate according to the gender listed on their birth certificate "unless they were legally reassigned." That would include being listed on a birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, or other certified medical records.
The policy states that each school is responsible for making this initial determination for its student-athletes. According to KHSAA, a student-athlete who has undergone sex reassignment is eligible to compete in the reassigned gender, provided such is not precluded by additional adopted by law or policy, when:
- The student-athlete has undergone sex reassignment before puberty, or
- The student-athlete has undergone sex reassignment after puberty under all of the following conditions:
- a. Surgical anatomical changes have been completed, including external genitalia changes and gonadectomy;
- b. Hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been administered in a verifiable manner and for a sufficient length of time to minimize gender-related advantages in sports competition; and
- c. If a student-athlete stops taking hormonal treatment, they will be required to participate in the sport consistent with their birth gender
