BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota House has approved a measure that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing on teams that do not match their birth gender.
Supporters of the measure said it’s designed to protect girls from having to compete against boys who are physiologically stronger and faster than girls. Lidgerwood Republican Representative Kathy Skroch is the lead sponsor.
Opponents said LGBTQ kids are often bullied at rates much higher than other kids. House Minority leader Josh Boschee of Fargo said the suicide rate among those kids is very high.
The measure passed 65 to 27. It will now go to the Senate.
House Bill 1298
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 14‑02.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to participation in athletic events exclusively for males or females. On 02/11 House Second reading, passed, yeas 65 nays 27.
Sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives B. Koppelman, Meier, Paulson, Schauer, Skroch, Steiner, Vetter Senators Clemens, Kannianen, Myrdal
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 14-02.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to participation in athletic events exclusively for males or females.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 14-02.4 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Athletic events exclusively for males or exclusively for females.
1.The state, a political subdivision of the state, or an entity that receives public funding from the state or from a political subdivision of the state may not:
a. Allow an individual who was assigned the opposite sex at birth to participate on an athletic team sponsored or funded by the state, political subdivision, or entity and which is exclusively for females or exclusively for males.
b. Sponsor an athletic event exclusively for males or exclusively for females that allows participation by an individual who was assigned the opposite sex at birth.
c. Use or permit to be used an athletic facility, stadium, field, structure, or other property owned by or under the control of the state, political subdivision, or entity for an athletic event in which an individual who was assigned the opposite sex at birth is allowed to participate in an athletic event conducted exclusively for males or exclusively for females.
2. For purposes of this section, the sex assigned at birth is the sex indicated on the individual’s original birth certificate issued at the time of birth.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1298