Tonight, Gov. Mark Gordon indicated he will allow a bill that will prohibit transgender students from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity to go into law without his signature.
The ACLU of Wyoming opposed Senate File 133, legislation that violates both 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.
The following statement can be attributed to Antonio Serrano, ACLU of Wyoming advocacy director:
“Nobody wins when politicians meddle in people’s lives like this. Nobody wins when we codify discrimination like this.
“Senate File 133 is not about leveling the playing field for student athletes. It’s about erasing and excluding trans people from participation in all aspects of public life. Inclusive teams that support all athletes and encourage participation should be the standard for all school sports.
“Allowing Senate File 133 to go into law is shameful and only reinforces the incorrect notion that transgender students are not entitled to the same dignity and respect as all students.”
About the ACLU of Wyoming
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of Wyoming is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and South Dakota. The team in Wyoming is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ communities. The ACLU of Wyoming carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of Wyoming.
###
