A pair of companion bills aimed at barring male-to-female transgender athletes from competing as girls in interscholastic sports are moving forward. Two separate public hearings have been scheduled for next Wednesday morning (5/26). The Assembly Committee on Education will take public testimony on Assembly Bill 196 at 9:00 a.m. in room 412 East of the State Capitol and the Senate Committee on Human Services, Children & Families will hear on Senate Bill 322 at 11:00 a.m. in room 411 South of the State Capitol.
For years, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has established and enforced policies regulating student participation in high school athletics for school districts around the state.
According to a recent Racine Journal Times editorial:
“Six years ago, the WIAA adopted a policy on transgender participation in high school sports. Under that policy, which commits to ensuring that transgender students have opportunities to participate in WIAA-sponsored athletics, students who are born male but self-identify as being female (MTF), have to have a full calendar year of medically documented testosterone suppression therapy. They must also provide documentation to their school from a physician or psychologist that affirms their consistent gender identification and expression; provide medical documentation of any hormonal therapy, sexual reassignment surgery or counseling; and provide documentation from friends, family, teachers and others that demonstrate the student’s consistent gender identification and expression. The school then makes a decision.”
News reports have suggested the proposal would likely face an almost certain veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers should it pass the Republican-controlled Legislature.
