New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has signed a bill that bans transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams for students in grades 5-12. This new law, which takes effect in 30 days, joins a growing list of states with similar restrictions.
Under this legislation, schools will need to classify all sports teams as either girls’, boys’, or coed, and eligibility will be based on students’ birth certificates or other proof of sex.
Governor Sununu, a Republican, stated that the bill aims to “ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports” by maintaining “integrity and competitive balance” in athletic events. Supporters of the bill argue that it’s necessary to protect cisgender girls from potentially being outmatched by larger and stronger transgender athletes.
However, not everyone agrees with Sununu’s decision. Megan Tuttle, the president of NEA-New Hampshire, criticized the bill, stating that public schools should be inclusive environments for all students, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
She argued that the new law could undermine the sense of belonging that sports provide to young people, which is crucial for their development.
In addition to the sports bill, Sununu signed another piece of legislation on the same day that bans gender-affirming surgeries for transgender minors. This new law will go into effect on January 1, 2025.
Sununu defended this decision by emphasizing the protection of children’s health and safety, claiming it has garnered bipartisan support. Gender-affirming surgeries have been available in the U.S. for over a decade and are supported by major medical organizations.
Sununu also vetoed a bill that would have allowed public and private entities to discriminate based on “biological sex” in various settings, such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic events.
He argued that the existing law, enacted in 2018, already addresses discrimination based on gender identity and that the new bill could create unnecessary conflict over issues that haven’t been significant problems in New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, in the broader landscape, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recently adopted a policy banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The new rule restricts participation to those assigned female at birth and also excludes transgender women or nonbinary individuals undergoing masculinizing hormone therapy.
In other states, West Virginia and Idaho are seeking a review by the U.S. Supreme Court of rulings that blocked their laws prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in sports, reflecting the ongoing national debate over these issues.
Source – CBS News
