Iowa State Capitol Building. (Photo from State of Iowa)
A bill that would ban transgender youth athletes from participating in girls and women’s sports in Iowa public schools, passed by the subcommittee of the Iowa House Education Committee last week, drew the swift condemnation of the committee’s sole Democratic member.
Rep. Mary Mascher of Iowa City spoke forcefully to the subcommittee, saying “I am adamantly opposed to this bill, because I think it is state-sanctioned bullying.”
“We talk a good game up here about protecting students, and making sure that their rights are upheld and that we honor and give them dignity in terms of their participation in school, activities and sports,” she continued. “And at the same time, we are setting up a system that will allow the state to sanction bullying in our schools. I cannot abide by that.”
Mascher is a teacher who taught fifth- and sixth-graders in Iowa City schools for 33 years before retiring in 2009.
“I look at all of the issues in the problems that we see students having, the struggles they face every day. Our transgender students deserve better,” she said.
Iowa’s independent media outlet Little Village noted that HF 2309 allows any student who alleges “direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of the bill’s requirement” to sue a school district, private school or high school athletic association if transgender girls are not banned from girls sports.
“This bill is not about fairness in sports, nor has it even been. This is an effort to further isolate transgender youth in Iowa by lawmakers who should know better than to use their most marginalized constituents as political pawns,” said Sam Ames, Director for Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project. “Research consistently demonstrates that trans youth already face increased risk for bullying, depression, and suicide – and the ugly debates around these discriminatory laws sweeping the country only make matters worse. There are many issues that Iowa lawmakers should be prioritizing this year. Attacking young trans people should not be one of them.”
During testimony Feb. 10, Emily Piper, representing the Iowa Association of School Boards, told the subcommittee “This bill creates an unfortunate situation for school districts and our public employees where they’ll have to make a decision as to whether they violate state law or whether they violate federal law.” Piper also told members that the association opposes the bill because it “is going to have serious consequences, not only for our employees, but for the districts and for the taxpayer as we seek to defend ourselves. We ask that you do not put us in this position of having to choose between a state law and a federal law.”
The subcommittee also heard from Gavy Smith, a transgender girl who is an active participant in sports at her school, including volleyball, softball, bowling and track and field, the Little Village reported.
“Through my transition, the best thing to look forward to at the end of the day are those sports,” Gabby said. “They help me make new friendships and keep the old ones. They have made me stronger, mentally and physically.”
She continued, “If I were told I couldn’t play the sports that I want to and for the gender that I identify as, I would feel less about myself, like I’m being forced to feel different about who I am.”
The bill now goes to the House Education Committee for consideration. If HF 2309 passes both the House and the Senate, the bill will then head to the desk of Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds.
The Des Moines Register reported that Reynolds repeated Feb. 15 that she believes it’s not fair to allow transgender women and girls to compete in girls’ sports, but said she’ll wait to see the final version of a bill Iowa lawmakers are considering before she commits to signing it.
“Girls have dreams and aspirations of earning a scholarship to help pay for college. Girls have dreams and aspirations of one day competing in the Olympics,” Reynolds said. “So it’s a fairness issue.”
Reynolds, last year, called for Iowa lawmakers to send a bill to her desk that would restrict transgender athletes’ ability to participate in sports matching their gender identity, but lawmakers adjourned the session without filing a bill.
