Republican Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill on Wednesday barring male athletes who identify as female from competing in girls’ and womens’ sports in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. The bill narrowly passed the state Senate, which added the college component. The House of Delegates then overwhelmingly approved it.
How will it fare on the national stage? Some lawmakers warned against the bill, noting that the NCAA could retaliate and decide not to hold college tournaments in the state. LGBT activists are pressuring the NCAA Board of Governors to refuse to schedule championships in states that limit women’s sports to female athletes. GOP lawmakers in Florida have sent a similar bill to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Dig deeper: Read Ray Hacke’s report on how courts might rule on similar laws.
