INDIANA NEWS SERVICE - A new Indiana law
takes effect July 1 banning transgender women and girls from playing on
women's college sports teams, expanding the state's earlier K-12
restrictions passed in 2022.
The measure applies to all public colleges and universities, and any
private school competing against a public institution. Supporters said
the measure protects fairness in women's sports by requiring athletes to
compete based on their sex assigned at birth.
Zoe O'Haillin-Berne, director of marketing and communications for the LGBTQ+ community support organization Indiana Youth Group, said the law harms students already at high risk.
"Laws like HB 1041 do more than restrict sports participation,"
O'Haillin-Berne pointed out. "They send a loud and resounding message
that transgender youth do not belong in Indiana."
Opponents of the new law have said it is not backed by facts.
O'Haillin-Berne added it distracts from the real challenges transgender
students face on campus.
O'Haillin-Berne disputed widely-disseminated claims of "unfairness" when trans athletes compete in women's sports.
"1041 is built on the false claim that transgender girls are dominating
women's sports," O'Haillin-Berne noted. "In reality, most transgender
youth avoid sports altogether. They do this because of the scrutiny and
bullying that they face on a day-to-day basis."
O'Haillin-Berne argued Indiana leaders should focus on making schools and campuses safer for all students, not more hostile.
Joe Ulery wrote this article.