Florida Trans Law Appears Dead, For Now

The controversial Florida bill that would’ve prevented trans women and girls from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams appears to be dead — at least for now.

While HB 1475 passed the Florida House of Representatives, SB 2012, the version of the bill proposed in the state senate would need revision in order for the legislation to match. However, time is running out on this legislative session, and the sponsor of the senate bill has asked that the process be postponed. 

“I believe Florida should protect the ability of girls and women to safely participate in athletics, and I think there is consensus among my colleagues surrounding that underlying policy objective,” Sen. Kelli Stargel, the sponsor of the senate bill, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in a statement. “We want to get there in a manner that respects the inherent dignity of each person, while at the same time acknowledging the fact that the biological differences between men and women can be significant, and can vary based on how far along a person is within their transition.”

HB 1475 would have subjected any student-athlete in the state whose gender was questioned to submit to procedures — including genital inspection — as a means of proving their eligibility for a particular sports team. Athletes would only be eligible to compete on teams that corresponded to the sex listed on their birth certificate. 

However, Stargel said it was important to focus on other legislative priorities for the duration of this session. “In a time-limited environment, I don’t know that we will have sufficient time to revisit SB 2012 this session,” she said.