INDIANAPOLIS — A bill that would make it illegal for transgender girls to participate on sports teams designated for girls at public schools in Indiana is moving forward.
The bill, HB 1041, will move to the Senate after it passed the House with a 66-30 vote on Thursday.
HB 1041 would prohibit transgender girls from participating on sports teams at K-12 public schools designated for girls. The bill would also establish a civil action for violations and schools wouldn't be subject to civil, administrative, disciplinary or criminal liability for complying with it.
MORE | Rally at Statehouse planned to oppose HB 1041, bill would restrict trans girls from girls' teams | ACLU says proposed Indiana bill would ban transgender students from school sports
Supporters of the bill, including its author, State Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Greenwood, want the bill to protect fair competition for females.
"I want to make sure that all the opportunities are provided for our young females and we protect the fair competition for them so they have all those possibilities," Davis said.
People who opposed HB 1041 spoke during the bill's hearing in the House Education Committee about the mental health toll transgender kids face when they're singled out by legislation. Many of them were parents who fear their kids will not be able to live a normal life if bills like HB 1041 become law.
"The Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes this legislation because it would harm children in Indiana and further marginalize transgender youth who are already at higher risk of depression and serious mental health issues," Dr. Lauren Bell said. "Research has shown that refusing to acknowledge an individual's gender identity leads to psychological and physical harm. Gender identity is a well-established concept in medicine which refers to a person's internal sense of being male or female."
-
Senator's business receives bomb threat as attacks on Indiana lawmakers escalate
Andy Zay (R-Huntington) confirmed Friday that his Huntington business received a bomb threat Thursday, adding to a pattern of swatting attacks and threats targeting state legislators this week.
$25K bond for Whitestown man charged with killing a member of a cleaning crew
Curt Andersen, charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cleaning worker in Whitestown, was released on $25,000 bond with strict conditions following his initial court appearance.
Lafayette officer-involved shooting leaves one man dead
A man died during an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning, following a traffic stop and confrontation with police at an apartment complex.
Gov. Braun orders flags at half-staff to honor fallen Delaware County Deputy
Governor Mike Braun has directed flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Corporal Blake Reynolds, a Delaware County Sheriff's deputy who died in the line of duty on November 12.
