AUSTIN, Texas — Transgender athletes can’t play on Texas college sports teams that don’t align with their birth sex under a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday.
The measure, which expands a similar effort passed in 2021, was among several passed during this legislative session that negatively impacted LGBTQ people — specifically transgender rights. It prohibits Texas’ public colleges and universities from allowing athletes to participate in intercollegiate competitions against students assigned a different biological sex at birth.
Texas is the latest state to enact this kind of ban. At least 20 states restrict the participation of transgender athletes at the K-12 level, the collegiate level or both. The legislation, by GOP Sen. Mayes Middleton, is called the “Save Women’s Sports” act.
