Tuesday, 27 April 2021
Alabama, the state due to host the World Games in Birmingham next year, has passed a bill banning transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill, which prohibits competition between those of different biological sex unless a mixed competition, into law on Friday (April 23).
Known as House Bill 391 (HB 391), it states "Schools, public K-12, athletic events allowing competition by one biological gender against another prohibited unless the event specifically includes both genders".
Although the terminology used is "both genders", it is believed this would refer to sex - meaning transgender girls who are regarded as biologically male and transgender boys who are regarded as biologically female would have to play in competition aligned with the sex they were assigned at birth.