JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Transgender girls cannot compete in women’s sports in Florida.
Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered that controversial message on Tuesday when he signed the “Fairness In Women’s Sports Act” into law.
The measure, which has been heavily criticized by both Democrats and the NCAA, states that “athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex.”
DeSantis said the law ensures fairness for women athletes by basing a student’s biological sex on their birth certificate at the time of their birth.
That means transgender girls who were born male but now identify as female cannot compete in public high school or college women’s sports in the Sunshine State.
“We believe in the state of Florida of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women’s athletics,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Jacksonville. “We believe that it’s very important that the integrity of those competitions are preserved. That these opportunities are protected.”
www.wptv.com/news/state/transgender-girls-cant-compete-in-womens-sports-in-florida-governor-says