State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) requested Thursday that the final vote on the bill be delayed to next Monday’s calendar. Cepicky cited that numerous representatives wanted to vote on the bill but couldn’t on Thursday. This bill would require youths to participate in sports according to their biological sex at birth.
The general assembly has moved along steadily on this legislation: the Senate passed the bill on the first of this month easily along party lines. The only members to vote against the bill were Democratic State Senators Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville), Sara Kyle (D-Memphis), Katrina Robinson (D-Memphis), and Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville).
While several amendments have been added to the bill, none concern the legislative portion – just the introductory clauses.
States across the nation are taking similar stands to limit sport participation to biological sex.
South Dakota passed a similar law last week, and is awaiting their governor’s approval. Mississippi’s legislature passed one too, though their governor has already signed it into law. Their bill extends beyond K-12 public schools to public higher education in the state. It received overwhelming support in both their House and Senate.
Last March, Idaho Governor Bradley Little signed an act to bar transgender athletes in women’s sports. A district judge blocked the bill, and the state is appealing the ruling.
21 other states are considering this type of a bill currently.
States that have passed a similar bill in one legislative branch: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota.
States that are still contemplating a similar bill, no passage by either branch: Connecticut (and this bill), Florida (and this bill), Georgia (and these bills here and here), Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky (and this bill), Maine, Michigan, Minnesota (and these bills here and here), Missouri (and here),  New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas (and these bills here and here), and West Virginia (and these bills here, here, and here).
Both Utah and South Carolina legislatures have rejected a variation of a bill barring transgender activity in sports outside their respective biological sex.
Tennessee’s bill will be the first item on Monday’s calendar.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter or email tips to [email protected].
This bill should be an easy one to pass in TN. This is deeply concerning that there are any concerns.
As a Woman who fought for Rights a couple of decades ago, I have one comment: THEY BETTER PASS THIS BILL!
Dont allow GIRLS and WOMEN to be ERASED and Victimized
This concerns me! Is the sponsor worried about not having sufficient votes to legally require women to compete against women and men against men? This should be a “no brainer”, especially in Tennessee! We shouldn’t even be having this conversation!
But take note people, these are your representatives, representing and voting for laws FOR YOU. Is this what you want? Why not allow horses to compete against humans in races, gorillas in weight lifting, or porpoises in swimming? What’s the difference?