Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill barring transgender females from competing in women’s and girls school sports programs.
“I can tell you that in Florida, girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports,” DeSantis said Tuesday at the signing ceremony at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville.
Gov. @RonDeSantisFL signs a bill barring transgender females from competing in women’s sports.
“We will stand up to groups like the NCAA, who think that they should be able to dictate the policies in different states.
Not here. Not ever.” pic.twitter.com/sTuRsLkBjB
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 1, 2021
The Republican governor said his state was focused on the “fairness and integrity” of athletic programs with the new bill, which bars athletes from competing on school sports teams for a gender that is different than one of their birth certificates.
“We believe in the state of Florida of protecting the fairness and integrity of women’s athletics,” he added.
The bill, which previously cleared the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature in April, would retroactively affect transgender athletes currently on athletic teams.
One key point about this soon-to-be law that @CarlosGSmith pointed out: it’s *retroactive.*
Meaning, trans girls and women currently on sports teams will have to be kicked off this upcoming school year
— Jay O’Brien (@jayobtv) June 1, 2021
DeSantis’s decision to sign the legislation into law on the first day of June’s Pride Month sparked some criticism.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS POUR OUT FOR MEMORIAL BOAT PARADE, FLY ‘TRUMP 2024’ FLAGS
Democratic state Rep. Carlos Smith, who represents the 49th District and is Florida’s first openly gay Latino legislator, called the new law “appalling.”
“Appalling,” he tweeted. “First day of LGBTQ Pride Month and [DeSantis] signs SB 1028 which bans trans kids from school sports. FHSAA has allowed trans kids to participate in FL since 2013 with ZERO problems. This fuels transphobia and puts vulnerable kids at risk for no good reason.”
Appalling. First day of LGBTQ Pride Month and @GovRonDeSantis signs SB 1028 which bans trans kids from school sports. FHSAA has allowed trans kids to participate in FL since 2013 with ZERO problems. This fuels transphobia and puts vulnerable kids at risk for no good reason.
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) June 1, 2021
In a separate tweet, Smith added, “FUN FACT: The Republican majority in Tallahassee spent more time passing bills to push transgender children out of school sports than they spent trying to lower your home owner’s insurance rates. That’s how they govern now.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Democratic Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried similarly criticized the bill as “heartless.”
“Florida should stand for inclusivity, equality, and liberty — not peddling hate for political points,” she wrote. “Signing it on the first day of #Pride2021 is especially cruel.”
By signing a heartless ban on transgender kids in sports, @GovRonDeSantis is marginalizing an entire community.
Signing it on the first day of #Pride2021 is especially cruel.
Florida should stand for inclusivity, equality, and liberty — not peddling hate for political points.
— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) June 1, 2021
The Human Rights Campaign has already threatened legal action.
BREAKING: On the first day of #Pride, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill banning trans kids in the state from playing sports.
We will be filing a lawsuit to block this arbitrary, discriminatory ban. #LetKidsPlay
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 1, 2021
DeSantis said the law would “empower Florida women and girls” and goes to lengths to protect female athletes and their opportunities to earn athletic scholarships.
The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act will empower Florida women & girls to be able to compete on a level playing field. This will help ensure that opportunities for things like college scholarships will be protected for female athletes for years to come.
?:https://t.co/wQo4Hcl0vG— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 1, 2021
