Arizona lawmakers vote to restrict trans athletes, surgeries

Source: Associated Press

Arizona lawmakers vote to restrict trans athletes, surgeries

By JONATHAN J. COOPER
March 24, 2022

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature passed bills Thursday to prohibit gender reassignment surgery for minors and ban transgender athletes from playing on girls sports teams, joining a growing list of Republican-controlled states attempting to restrict transgender rights as they gain more visibility in culture and society.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has not said whether he will sign either bill. Two GOP governors this week bucked conservatives in their party and vetoed bills in Indiana and Utah requiring trans girls to play on boys sports teams.

Republicans have said blocking transgender athletes from girls sports teams would protect the integrity of women’s sports, claiming that trans athletes would have an advantage.

Many point to the transgender collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas, who won an individual title at the NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championship last week.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/arizona-gender-reassignment-surgery-ban-4f1b1a593d722edc5e856b5a4cfe9160