SPLC Action Fund Condemns Gov. DeSantis for Signing House Bill 1475, Banning Transgender Athletes from Competing in Sports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Gov. DeSantis signed House Bill 1475, making participation in school sports contingent on determining a student’s “biological sex,” which refers to a persons’ sex assigned at birth.

The following statement is from Scott McCoy, SPLC Action Fund interim deputy legal director, LGBTQ Rights & Special Litigation:

“The ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act’ signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis is entirely unfair to transgender and cisgender women and girls, as it disregards the needs of thousands of student athletes DeSantis was elected to protect.

“Reputable athletic organizations, such as the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee, allow transgender women to compete. Like all the states that passed similar legislation to deny the existence of trans athletes, Florida attempts to address a problem that does not and has never existed.

“Like every other bill denying transgender athletes’ the right to participate in sports, HB 1475’s discriminatory language is based not in reality, but ignorance, fear and prejudices. The fact remains that there is no evidence transgender student athletes – specifically females – enjoy any advantage over cisgender competitors.

“Subjected to the Florida legislature’s transphobic attitudes and irrational fears, transgender girls and women who play sports, as well as all student athletes, will be irreparably harmed.

“The SPLC Action Fund will continue to tirelessly work to ensure that transgender youth and the LGBTQ+ community are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.”