DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Thursday banning transgender women and girls from participating in girls’ sports.
The bill (HF 2416) was signed at noon in the Rotunda in the Iowa State Capitol building. The bill affects all trans women and girls – including this in high school and collegiate levels – in Iowa. The bill allows participation in sports based upon the biological sex listed on the athlete’s birth certificate.
“This is a victory for girls’ sports in Iowa. No amount of talent, training or effort can make up for the natural physical advantages males have over females. It’s simply a reality of human biology,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Forcing females to compete against males is the opposite of inclusivity and it’s absolutely unfair.”
This bill requires schools at all levels to designate sporting events as male, female, or co-ed. Only students who are female according to their birth certificate will be eligible to compete in girls sports. No student will be prevented from playing a sport that matches his or her biological sex, or a sport designated as co-ed.
Reynolds accepted strong praise from some but harsh criticism from others.