MADISON, Wis. — A pair of bills banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at both the K-12 and collegiate levels was given the green light from the Wisconsin Assembly Wednesday.
The debate over the bills comes right in the middle of LGBT Pride Month and though there’s a whole lot of talk, the legislation seems to be destined for a veto by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Amira Pierotti, who is going into their senior year at Memorial High School, doesn’t consider themselves an athlete, but they have plenty of friends who are.
“The reality is that many trans students, even if their school allows them to play on a team that best aligns with their gender, they can’t participate in any competitions,” Pierotti said.
Pierotti
Pierotti believes the WIAA’s rules are already too strict, which require at least a year of hormone replacement therapy and parental consent before a transgender girl can compete on a girls’ team.
“Student’s options are to go on a co-ed team, which will likely turn out to just be a trans team or be labeled as a trans team—that’s harmful, or to be outed—that’s harmful,” Pierotti said.
State Rep. Barb Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc), who is spearheading the ban, disagrees and thinks the WIAA’s policies don’t go far enough.
Dittrich
“There are medical studies showing that athletes who have been under hormone treatment, male athletes that have been under hormone treatment for two years, still hold a 10% advantage over biological women in those sports,” Dittrich said.
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, the Democrats in the LGBTQ+ Caucus unveiled this year’s ‘Equality Agenda,’ which includes six bills. Among them, banning conversion therapy and removing discriminatory language from the state’s constitution and statutes.
Protesters hold signs with messages of support during rally held outside the state Capitol Wednesday on afternoon in Madison, Wis.
“To our transgender community, their families, and especially to our non-binary and transgender young people we say: we see you, we honor you for who you are. You are valued and you belong,” State Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) said during a press conference Wednesday morning.
So far, none of the bills have received a public hearing or bipartisan support.
Protester makes sign during rally held outside the state Capitol on Wednesday afternoon in Madison, Wis.
As for Pierotti, they are not giving up.
“These laws are not needed,” Pierotti said. “There’s no scientific basis and the reality is we’re not assaulters. We just want to live our lives.”
Assembly Bills 195 and 196 still need approval from the State Senate before going to Gov. Evers.
