BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

West Virginia governor says he will let transgender sports bill become law

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice during his briefing on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. (Courtesy: Gov. Jim Justice)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

CHARLESTON, W.V. (NewsNation Now) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday he would either sign or allow a bill that would ban transgender athletes in middle and high school from participating in school sports that match their gender identity.

House Bill 3293 says a birth certificate would be required upon admission to public school confirming the individual’s sex at birth. The law would not apply to “co-educational secondary school interscholastic athletic events.”

“Personally, I feel that absolutely, I just can’t get through my head that it is the right thing for us at a middle school level or a high school level in our state for me not to support the bill,’ said Justice.

He would become the fourth governor in the U.S. to enact such a law. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was the latest governor to sign a similar bill into law, joining Mississippi and Arkansas.

The NCAA said Tuesday they will continue to closely monitor these situations, even determining where championships are held, to decide whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants.

Justice said he would support the measures beyond middle school and high school.

“Even at our college-level I support the bill there as well. The only problem is the NCAA could penalize us in West Virginia,” said Justice.

The American Civil Liberties Union has condemned similar pieces of legislation and is encouraging people to sign a petition against House Bill 3293.

“HB 3293 is a mean-spirited bill that if enacted would violate federal law,” the organization said. “This cruel piece of legislation singles out an already vulnerable population, young trans people. Studies show this type of legislation is directly linked with increases in self-harm and even suicide among this community.”

NewsNation affiliate WTRF contributed to this report.

Northeast

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

56°F Fair Feels like 56°
Wind
0 mph N
Humidity
41%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph N
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous