Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Signs Bill Banning Trans Athletes from Competing in Women’s Sports

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday signed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The bill passed the state House in February and the state Senate on Wednesday, then went directly to Reynolds’ desk for signature.

The legislation, which goes into effect immediately, says that “only female students, based on their sex, may participate in any team, sport, or athletic event designated as being for females, women or girls.”

The bill defines sex as the “biological sex” listed on an individual’s birth certificate, and prohibits transgender athletes at the school, community college and college level from playing on a team that corresponds with their gender identity.

Iowa is not the first state to pass legislation of the sort. As previously reported by Human Events News, Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill in February banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

The bill codifies Noem’s 2021 executive order asserting that transgender athletes must compete on teams that align with their biological sex.

Noem said that the bill is about “fairness,” specifically for female athletes who are forced to compete against biological males.