The law states women and girls must play on the sport teams of the « biological sex » on their birth certificate. So, a transgender girl cannot play on a girls’ team.
On Tuesday, the first day of Pride Month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the high school and college level. DeSantis appeared at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville to sign the « Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, » which was introduced by Republican State Senator Travis Hutson in February. The law states that women and girls must play on the sport teams of the « biological sex » on their birth certificate. Therefore, a transgender girl whose birth certificate denotes her « biological sex » as male, cannot play on a girls’ sports team. The law specifies that athletic teams or sports « designated for males, men, or boys may be open to students of the female sex. » but athletic teams or sports « designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex. » Therefore, if a transgender boy wants to play on a boys’ team, he can. During a press conference at the academy, girls who attend the school stood on stage behind DeSantis. « We believe in the state of Florida protecting the fairness and integrity of women’s athletics, » he said. « I can tell you that in Florida, girls are going to play girls’ sports and boys are going to play boys’ sports. We’re going to make sure that that’s the reality.
