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."
-
Indy's clinician-led team to host town halls to meet residents where they are
The job of Indy's clinician-led community response team is to help people living in downtown and on the east and north sides who may be suffering from a mental health emergency.
Middle school students in Pendleton learn tools of the trades
Middle school is a time when children start to figure out their interests. Students in Pendleton on Friday got to try out construction, learning how to work with their hands.
'I’ve been a Pacers fan for 32 years': Pacers fans gear up for a pivotal game 3
As the Indiana Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the energy throughout the Hoosier State is riding high.
Father-daughter duo celebrate joint graduation from Indiana University
It’s graduation weekend at IU and thousands of students will walk across the stage, that includes Reggie Johnson and his daughter Liv Clements.
