LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a law Thursday prohibiting transgender women and girls from participating in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity, making the state the second this year to approve such a restriction . .
The Republican governor approved the measure despite objections of medical and child welfare groups that it would have devastating consequences for transgender youth. Hundreds of college athletes have also urged the NCAA to refuse to hold championships in states that enact such bans.
“This law simply says that female athletes cannot compete in a sport against a male student if the sport is intended for women’s competition,” Hutchinson said in a statement from his office. “As I stated earlier, I agree with the intent of this law. This will help promote and maintain fairness in women’s sporting events. “
Republicans in at least 20 state lawmakers have pushed for similar bans this year. The Governor of Mississippi signed a ban in law earlier this month. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem had initially said she would sign similar legislation sent to her, but has since pushed for an amendment to exclude college sports. Arkansas law covers both K-12 and collegiate sports.
The head of the human rights campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ rights groups, called Hutchinson’s decision “an insult not only to the transgender children it will undoubtedly hurt, but also to all Arkansans who will be affected by the consequences.”
“Hutchinson ignores the ugly histories of states that have dared to enact anti-transgender laws in recent years, and in so doing exposes Arkansas to economic damage, costly taxpayer-funded legal battles and a tarnished reputation,” said Alphonso David, the chairman of the group, said in a statement.
Only one state, Idaho, has passed a law restricting sports participation for transgender students, and that 2020 measure is being blocked by a court ruling while a lawsuit unfolds. Opponents have not said whether they are planning legal action to block the Arkansas ban.
“This bill is a discriminatory and shameful attempt by politicians to stigmatize and exclude transgender teens,” said Holly Dickson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas.
Arkansas law, if not blocked by a legal challenge, would go into effect this summer. Under the new law, a student or school who suffers “direct or indirect harm” could take a school to court for violating the ban.
The measure is one of several measures targeting transgender people coming through the Republican majority of the legislature this year. Another bill on Hutchinson’s desk would allow doctors to refuse someone for moral or religious reasons, a measure opponents said would allow LGBT patients to be rejected.
A final vote is also expected next week on legislation that would ban gender-confirmation surgery or treatment for minors.
The measures have gained support as a hate crime bill backed by Hutchinson has stalled, faced with conservative resistance. The current version of the bill would impose additional penalties for committing a crime against someone due to a variety of characteristics, including gender identity or sexual orientation.
Arkansas is one of three states without a hate crime law.
When asked earlier this week about the message the measures against transgender people are sending to the LGBT community, Hutchinson said he hoped to send a welcome message by enacting a hate crime law.
“I want the message to be that we want to make sure that everyone is protected, that everyone is treated equally under the law,” Hutchinson told reporters on Tuesday. “That’s very, very important, whether it’s transgender or if it’s some other trait.”
Hutchinson also signed the bill four years after opposing the legislation that would have banned people from using toilets in government buildings that are not gender-appropriate at birth. That measure, which never went out of commission, had met with opposition from tourism groups who said it would hurt the state’s economy.