Ohio House Republicans passed a bill Tuesday that prohibits all transgender students from playing sports in high school and college and requires genital testing in any proceedings.
Representatives voted on the 151th House Bill on the first day of Pride Month. The event will move to the Senate after the return of parliamentarians from the summer holidays. If the bill becomes law, it will take precedence over all current high school and university sports association policies.
The Association’s current policies aim to protect medical confidentiality and stress. The new bill provides a direct ban on transgender athletes.
Under the proposal, if a player’s gender is in dispute, he or she must file a doctor’s statement on “internal and external reproductive anatomy” and testosterone levels. Students must also demonstrate genetic composition analysis.
While listening to the bill, Congresswoman Beth Liston, a Democrat and a doctor from the Colombian region, called the amendment “state-sanctioned bullying.”
“It’s really weird and pointless, but in practice, if we look at it, this bill means that if someone decides to question the true gender of a child, that child has to undergo a sensitive analysis, ”Liston said.
According to Equality Ohio and the Ohio High School Athletic Association, there is only one transgender athlete in the entire state who participates in high school sports, according to the ABC News 5 TV affiliate.
“Playing on a women’s team is really incredible, it’s a complete dream,” said Amber, a softball player and high school student. “I feel at home and I can handle myself. I don’t have to wear a mask or pretend to enjoy the sport I love ”.
The Meidas Touch Political Action Committee released a copy of the bill on Thursday and critics were outraged:
How can this not be a violation of HIPAA
– 👣Jarrett and Lily against everyone (@ JLVsTW1) June 2, 2022
@ACLU Please tell, what is the story of those big puppies …..
No one will “testify” to my child’s genitals– ვარ I’m out. (@BexWords) June 2, 2022
So, if someone accuses someone of being trans, they should undergo external and internal genital exams, testosterone level tests, and so on. What if everyone is accused of being in a trance?
– Beat the lie – the voice of blue 2022 (@ wck461) June 3, 2022
I thought the GOP said it wasn’t much power interfering with people’s lives.
– Moon Goddess Massage and Reiki (@Goddess_Moon) June 2, 2022
In PA, if a school does not have a men’s team for a particular sport, the boys can play on a women’s team. This happened regularly when I was playing women’s volleyball. Does not care.
– at dawn (@dedinpgh) June 2, 2022
We need perspective on this. These are the men we are talking about-some of whom are already experiencing the trauma of bullying. This is inhumane
– TX Girl Riden a Blue Wave🌊🌊🌊✝️🇺🇸🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@ rojo2k) June 2, 2022
The Olympics abolished visual gender identification years ago. It’s disgusting.
– Trump Patriot and Democrat (@ TrumpTroll9000) June 2, 2022
The same Republican lawmakers who spent two years shouting about how masked warrants and vaccines are an invasive insult to bodily autonomy recently passed legislation requiring children to undergo on genital exams on the grounds that a man’s mother complained about a track meeting. https://t.co/dXpyql7nKL
-Craig Calcutta (@craigcalcaterra) June 2, 2022
Source: Huffpost
