Texas senators on Tuesday approved a bill that would prohibit college athletes who are transgender from participating in the sports teams that match their gender identity.
The bill is part of a slew of measures that target people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, pushed back against those who have criticized him for . He said his measure was about 鈥渇airness.鈥�
"We hope every woman in this great state has a fair opportunity at athletic achievement and this bill protects that opportunity,鈥� Middleton said.
The measure was passed by the Senate 19-9. The measure will have to clear a final procedural vote on Wednesday before it鈥檚 sent to the Texas House for consideration.
During the debate, Middleton was asked why pushing for a ban instead of letting the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, address the issue.
Middleton said he didn鈥檛 want to defer the decision.
鈥淭he time for fairness is right now,鈥� Middleton said. 鈥淚鈥檓 also not convinced the NCAA is going to do anything about this.鈥�
In 2021, during a special session, the Texas Legislature passed a bill that requires transgender K-12 athletes to compete in the sports team that matches their sex assigned at birth.
Middleton said the measure would "finish the equation."
Middleton鈥檚 measure is also one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick鈥檚 priorities.
Republicans in this legislative session have focused on bills that target gender-affirming care for minors, , and school books that talk about gender and sexuality.
The measures have received , including LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who say they are discriminatory toward transgender people.
Johnathan Gooch, the communications director at the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Texas, told The Texas Newsroom Tuesday the measure is part of a slew of 鈥渉ateful bills鈥� being pushed by Texas Republican lawmakers.
鈥淎ll Texans deserve a right to a healthy life,鈥� Gooch said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing to see the Senate cutting the lives of trans people one piece at a time.鈥�
