A bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports from kindergarten through college in Wyoming has advanced to the state Senate after passing the House by a 51-6 vote, with five members absent, KGAB AM 650 reports.
Sponsored by Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Big Horn, Washakie counties), House Bill 60 mandates that students can only participate in girls’ or women’s sports if they were born female. The proposed legislation would expand current state law, which already restricts transgender athletes from participating in high school sports, to include intercollegiate, interscholastic, and intramural competitions.
The bill covers both team sports, such as basketball and volleyball, and individual sports like tennis and golf. If enacted, Wyoming would join other states in implementing such restrictions on transgender athletes.
Lawley cited concerns raised during a 2024 forfeiture by the University of Wyoming women’s volleyball team against San Jose State, a California school with a transgender player. At least two other college volleyball teams reportedly took similar actions in scheduled games against San Jose State.
Supporters argue that the bill is necessary to maintain fairness and integrity in women’s sports.
The ACLU of Wyoming opposes the bill, contending that it violates the US Constitution and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, including sports.
A statement on the ACLU’s website reads:
“This bill isn’t about protecting fairness in sports. It’s a bill that violates the United States Constitution and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which protects all students – including those who are transgender – from discrimination based on sex.”
House Bill 60 has been introduced in the Wyoming Senate, where it will undergo committee review and further debate.
