Tennessee Gov. Bans Transgender Athletes In Girls' Sports, Says They 'Destroy Women’s Sports'

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law on Friday that requires transgender student-athletes to play the sport of their choice with the sex they were assigned at birth.

This southern state followed in the steps of Arkansas and Mississippi, who passed similar laws/bills earlier this year. Twenty other states are also in talks of approving the same bills in the near future.

Lee has stated before that transgender women athletes would “destroy women’s sports,” ABC News reported.

I signed the bill to preserve women's athletics and ensure fair competition. This legislation responds to damaging federal policies that stand in opposition to the years of progress made under Title IX and I commend members of the General Assembly for their bipartisan work.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) March 26, 2021

Those in support of the bill argue that those who identify as transgender girls are “naturally stronger, faster and bigger” than cis women, which gives them an advantage.

When looking at instances when transgender women or men caused issues in school sports, The Associated Press only found a handful of situations amongst thousands of high school athletes.

Many Tennessee residents were unhappy with this news, wondering what issues transgender students would cause in sports.

You'll be remembered for this legislation as a bigot, not a defender of the sanctity of sport. You should once again be ashamed of yourself for defending the status quo instead of the marginalized people of your constituency. Can't wait to vote you out, Bill.
— William Fletcher (@FletchyLives) March 27, 2021

This makes me so angry. Tennessee Republicans spend more time hurting people than helping them.

To any trans youth reading, know this: you matter. You belong. I will fight for you with every breath I have. Don’t give up.#tnleg https://t.co/R4naMBL8lq
— Kristi Cornett (@KristiCornettTN) March 27, 2021

@BillLeeTN decides he can be a more horrible human than @BrianKempGA #CorruptGOP - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs athlete bill into law over concerns from transgender community https://t.co/e0Td5RpAgP via @USATODAY
— Kevin Locascio 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 (@KLoBootcamp) March 27, 2021

Some residents of the state were happy to see this bill get approved on Friday.

That's my Governor!! Proud to be a Tennessean. Thank God for our Governor Bill Lee with some Sanity and not conforming to the Craziness...sports is about fair competition, so keep it that way! https://t.co/uS8YoD1Y42
— Gail (@glricha3) March 27, 2021

Congratulations to Gov. Bill Lee. The NCAA ought to be ashamed of themselves allowing transgenders to compete in girls sports. Thes guys may feel they are females in their minds but physically they are males who should not compete in female sports.
— bill perry (@billper63829444) March 27, 2021

A group that serves as a crisis center for transgender children and teenagers, The Trevor Project, has offered its assistance to any of those who feel upset about the ruling.

"This discriminatory policy is illegal," said Sam Brinton of The Trevor Project, “The Trevor Project is here 24/7 to support trans youth in Tennessee and across the country who feel hurt and invalidated by these purely political attacks.”