Count Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) as an opponent of an executive order newly signed by President Joe Biden that would allow biological males, in some cases, to compete with biological females in public school athletics.
The order begins, “Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love. Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”
This action would effectively allow transgender females — biological males who identify as females — to utilize female restrooms and locker rooms in K-12 schools across America; the order would also allow transgender females to compete in female sports.
“It is the policy of my Administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation,” stated Biden in his order.
The order threatens to withhold federal funding from public entities that do not comply.
In a social media post, Ainsworth blasted the order as “terrible policy.”
“You can’t have guys playing girls sports,” the Republican said.
“[T]o use your quote President Biden, ‘Come on Man,'” Ainsworth concluded.
This is terrible I mean terrible policy. You can’t have guys playing girls sports, to use your quote President Biden, “Come on Man”. https://t.co/D6kNwltkdW
— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) January 22, 2021
The executive order comes after a bill was introduced during the 2020 regular session of the Alabama Legislature entitled the “Gender is Real Legislative” (GIRL) Act. The legislation would have required Alabama public schools to make sure every entrant in an athletic competition is sorted by the gender on their birth certificate. The bill also forbid any state, county or municipal government/agency from providing a facility to a single-gender competition that allows a transgender entrant. The GIRL Act exempted any event that is specifically designed to have both boys and girls as competitors. The measure was advanced by a House committee but petered out during the COVID-shortened session.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.