Jay Greenberg – March 5, 2021
The Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing in female sports events.
The state’s House passed the bill 81-28 on Wednesday to ban transgenders from competing on sports teams based on the gender they “identify” with.
Seven representatives voted “present,” while six did not vote, which counts neither for nor against the bill.
The ban would apply to teams at all schools and universities across the state.
The bill now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.
Reeves has expressed support for the move and is expected to sign the legislation into Mississippi state law as soon as possible.
The Republican-controlled state Senate passed the bill 34-9 on Feb. 11, with five senators not voting, and four voting “present,” according to Fox News.
Mississippi is now one of more than 20 states where lawmakers have proposed restrictions on athletes playing on sports teams that don’t align with their sex assigned at birth or for gender-reassignment health care for minors.