Louisiana Senate Bill 44 (SB 44), also known as the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, is a 2022 law in the state of Louisiana that prohibits transgender women from competing in women's sports by determining eligibility based on the sexes, not gender. It became law on August 1, 2022, due to Governor John Bel Edwards refusing to sign nor veto it. A similar bill had been proposed in 2021, but did not pass.
Provisions Senate Bill 44 prohibits anybody assigned male at birth from competing in women's sports. It is determined via a person's birth certificate, and those who have their birth certificate modified to align with their gender identity are still considered ineligible. The bill explicitly targets transgender women by prohibiting "biological males" from competing in teams designated for women. It applies to K-12 schools and higher education, such as colleges.
Reactions Support The primary sponsor of the bill, Beth Mizell, said that it was to protect cisgender women and keep the playing field fair.
Opposition Governor Edwards opposed the bill, but did not veto it. He later stated that it was due to the bill having too much support, which meant his veto would be easily overridden in both the House and the Senate. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced restrictions on state-funded travel to Louisiana shortly following its passage. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser critiqued the bill by saying it could deter sporting events from coming to Louisiana, such as NCAA championships. Athlete Ally, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ athletes, opposed the bill.
See also LGBTQ rights in Louisiana Transgender people in sports
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