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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Governor Bill Lee has signed legislation that will penalize public schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports.
Lee signed the new bill on Friday, confirming new penalties for schools that do not follow the previously signed law that banned those transgender athletes from participation.
The transgender athlete law was signed last year, making it mandatory for all student athletes to provide documentation to prove that their sex matches the one listed on the “original” birth certificate. Students who are unable to provide a birth certificate must submit another form of evidence “indicating the student’s sex at the time of birth.”
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That law remains in effect, even though it is currently being challenged as unconstitutional. It is tentatively scheduled to go to trial in March 2023.
Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28) says that the original law did not go far enough to provide “a level playing field for all of our female athletes.”
“There was no requirement for enforcement, no penalty for non-enforcement,” Hensley stated. “This bill just sets up a penalty.”
According to the newly signed bill, the Tennessee Department of Education would withhold part of the state funding allotted to schools if they do not verify student’s gender prior to participating in any middle or high school sports. It does not specify the amount that would be withheld.
Hensley also sponsored a bill that would keep transgender athletes from participating at the college level as well. The companion House Bill 2316 was sponsored by Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge-District 33).
“Biological males must compete against biological males, not biological females” Ragan stated. “This has been common sense for fairness and safety.”
That bill has passed both the House and Senate and is now headed to Governor Lee for final approval.
The law penalizing public schools for non-compliance is set to go into effect on July 1.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
2 Responses
Kudos on Governor Lee and our Tennessee legislature.
Why is it always these confused males always want to compete against females? Maybe because they know that they cannot physically compete against other males because they are too weak. So they say today I identify as a woman. You don’t hear females who identify as males competing against males. At least I haven’t heard any as of yet. God doesn’t make mistakes. Its reprobate minds that are at play here.
In God we trust not government or man.