Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed legislation on Tuesday that bans biological males from participating in female college athletic teams and vice versa.
The legislation, applicable to two-year and four-year public colleges, states its aim is to ensure fair competition and equal opportunities for female athletes. It expands a similar K-12 ban to college-level teams implemented in 2021.
The bill garnered strong support from the Republican-controlled legislature, passing with a significant majority of votes. In the Senate, it passed with a vote of 26–4, while in the state House, it passed with a vote of 83–5.
Under the new law, which amends the Code of Alabama 1975, public higher education and K-12 schools are prohibited from participating in or sponsoring interscholastic athletic events exclusively for males if individuals who are not biological males are involved. Similarly, biological females are barred from participating on male teams when a female team is available….