A new state law that is now in effect bans a certain population from competing in one gender’s sports.

The new law doesn’t allow for transgendered females to compete in female sports from kindergarten through 12th grade and college. District 24 Senator Jesse Green of Boone supports the new law, because he says there are cases where transgendered females are competing in girls sports in Iowa, but none of them constitute breaking school or state records, which is one reason the legislators wanted to install this new law, and another being safety.

“I was kind of surprised how little conversation around this topic is in regards to safety for girls and competing in these sports. There’s definitely a physical danger when you’re competing in rough sports, or volleyball, or anything that a biological boy could hurt, just because they’re stronger and faster, hurt a girl.”    

Opponents of the law have also argued that this will further isolate transgendered females, when their population is already marginalized. 

“(I) hope that we can put in the resources necessary to help these children grow into who God created them to be. I completely sympathize with anybody that struggles with that. I think it’s two separate topics that we’re talking about here. I don’t like lumping those two topics together when it comes to protecting girls sports and also possible depression, mental health issues or other aspects that students could be wrestling with.” 

Green adds one possible consequence with the new law allows for an individual or family to sue a school district that allows transgendered females that compete in girls sports and hurt a biological female.