Tuesday, June 1, 2021 (the first day of LGBTQ+ month), the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis signed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” which bans transgender females from participating in women’s sports. This bill requires transgender student athletes to provide their birth certificate to confirm their biological sex at birth. These athletes also would have to undergo genetic testing and testosterone, and agree to have their genitalia examined. The FHSAA (Florida Highschool Athletic Association) has integrated  transkids into sports since 2013 without any reported grievances, so what is the purpose of this bill?

DeSantis stated, “We believe that the integrity of those competitions are preserved. That these opportunities are protected. And I can tell you this, in Florida girls are going to play girls’ sports and boys are going to play boys’ sports. That [the Fairnessin Women’s Sports Act] is what we’re doing and we’re going to make sure that that is a reality… We are not just setting the standard, we’re also providing ways where that fairness and the equality can be enforced on behalf of our girls and our women athletes.” DeSantis seems to believe that trans girls have an advantage in sports, especially contact sports. Selina Soule, a track athlete in Connecticut, supports this new measure because she had lost New England Regional Championships and blames transgender athletes.

There are people standing against this alienating bill. For example, the Human Rights Campaign announced it intends to file a lawsuit. The Human Rights Campaign President,  even went so far as to announce, “Gov. DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are legislating based on false, discriminatory premise that puts the well-being of transgender children on the line.” The Human Rights campaign isn’t standing alone. The NCAA, an organizations regulates student athletes in over 1,000 North American Colleges reported that they will only select “locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy, and free of discrimination.”

What do people at CdM think? Two Seakings told us what they think about this new bill. Nikki S, a sophomore, said “I think it’s unfair because you should be able to identify however you want and any sport.” Omid Asadi, wisely pointed out that “Fairness and equality are the foundation of prosperity.”