ACLU of Tennessee Statement on Signing of Bill Excluding Transgender Student Athletes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today Governor Lee signed SB 228/HB 3, which prohibits transgender student athletes from participating in athletics consistent with their gender identity.

Hedy Weinberg, ACLU of Tennessee executive director had this reaction:

“Governor Lee’s rush to discriminate against transgender children is appalling. Transgender people have the right to participate in sports consistent with who they are, just like everyone else. Denying this right is pure discrimination.

“When Lee has made every effort to deny women the ability to make decisions about their own bodies, his grandstanding about protecting women’s rights by discriminating against transgender children is disingenuous at best. The marginalization of trans student athletes is rooted in the same kind of gender discrimination and stereotyping that has held back cisgender women athletes.

“Should any student be excluded because of this shameful legislation, we will see him in court.”

This statement is available online at: https://www.aclu-tn.org/statement-lee-signing-bill-excluding-transgender-student-athletes/