The Mississippi House on Wednesday passed a bill on 81-28 to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports teams.
Six representatives did not vote, and seven voted “present”, which does not count for or against the bill.
The ban applies to teams at state schools and universities. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk, which is expected to be signed.
The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill 34-9 Feb. 11, with five senators abstaining and four votes “present.”
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Mississippi is now one of more than twenty states where lawmakers are proposing restrictions on athletes playing in sports teams that do not match their gender assigned at birth, or for gender reassignment for minors.
President Biden one day, an executive order called on schools across the country to allow students to participate in sports under their chosen gender identity.
Several lawsuits across the country have emerged after high school girls challenged policies that allow transgender women to compete in their field – noting the physical benefits transgender women have as cisgender women, girls who are born and identify as female.
Reeves is a father of three daughters and says he is actively involved in their sports. On the day of Biden’s executive order, he posted on Twitter, “I am so disappointed with President Biden’s actions to force young girls like them to compete with biological men for access to athletics.”
“It will limit the chances for as many competitors as my daughters. This is a bad policy and it is wrong for America,” he added.
The Human Rights Campaign commented on Twitter that Mississippi became the first in the country to pass an explicit anti-trans bill in 2021. ‘
“We are witnessing a coordinated effort to limit and eradicate trans-existence across the country.” wrote the group.
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Only 17 states allow transgender high school athletes to participate in sports without regulations. Some states place restrictions on transgender competitors, and others handle matters on an individual basis.