The Alabama House is about to begin debating HB 391, which would prevent transgender youth from playing sports of the gender with which they identify. This will be the thread. #alpolitics
Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, the bill's sponsor says "it is unfair for biological males to compete against females in biological sports." #alpolitics
Similar bills are being pushed in other statehouses this year. The AP contacted numerous supporters of these bills last month, few of whom could cite local examples of this happening. apnews.com/article/lawmak… #alpolitics
Stadthagen insists this is about a "fair, level playing field for female athletes." Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, says the bill tells transgender athletes how they can compete. #alpolitics
Hall also expressing concerns that the bill could run afoul of NCAA regulations. #alpolitics
Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is up. Says Alabama High School Athletic Association director Steve Savarese supports the bill. #alpolitics
Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, is up. Says Stadthagen has been willing to meet with transgender individuals and appreciates him having an open mind. He opposes the bill. #alpolitics
Rafferty: "There's probably some trans kids who are watching this who are asking why are they singling me out, because that's what it feels like ... I was wondering if you have anything to say to them who might be listening right now." #alpolitics
Stadthagen: "I would not, right now." #alpolitics
Stadthagen: "I feel sorry for the kids you're talking about, I really do. But what about the females who have worked since they started at four years old, and they get to high school and all their dreams and scholarships yanked before their eyes." #alpolitics
Rafferty: "You understand Title IX protects transgender people, right? ... what could end up happening is a student is not allowed to play, they sue, and suddenly we don't have any control anymore. It's out of our hands at that point." #alpolitics
Rafferty citing NCAA's opposition to a transgender law passed in Idaho, and concerns about losing NCAA tournaments. ncaa.org/about/resource… #alpolitics
Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, is up. Supports the bill, saying it is a fairness issue, but criticizes the AHSAA (which supports the bill) for "fighting everything that comes before this body" in other instances. #alpolitics
Stadthagen's bill passes a procedural motion 74 to 17 with 3 abstentions. #alpolitics
Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, asks Stadthagen what he thinks a transgender person is. He says it is a male who identifies as a female. #alpolitics
Moore says one of her grandchild's friends is on hormone replacement because she was replacing too much male male hormone. "That was nothing she caused in her body." #alpolitics
Moore: "It's a true fact what these young people are going through. It's through no fault of their own ... I have a concern you are telling a parent or somebody, 'don't listen to your child if they say they just don't feel right.'" #alpolitics
Moore: "As a body, we are trying to practice medicine without a degree. Some of us got to be psychologists. Some of us got to be some surgeons and other doctors that deal with hormonal imbalance." #alpolitics
Moore asks Stadthagen if he spoke with doctors before filing his bill. He says he did, and they supported it. Moore says she doesn't believe that. #alpolitics
FWIW: Some of Moore's comments seem aimed more at another bill moving through the Legislature to ban puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender youth. #alpolitics
Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, is now up. As is often the case with controversial bills, the minority party tends to speak the most. #alpolitics
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