This bill would prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports at public and private colleges – expanding Indiana’s current K-12 ban. In addition, the bill opens up Indiana colleges to lawsuits by people who suspect that a transgender woman is participating in violation of the ban.
Enforcement of this type of ban will encourage people to harass women athletes they suspect of being transgender as happened at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Besides being discriminatory, the law is unnecessary. National governing bodies for each college sport are already creating participation guidelines for transgender athletes that appropriately balance inclusion with fairness. Transgender Hoosiers deserve the opportunity to fully live their lives, including as competitive athletes.
