Oklahoma sports 'biological sex affidavit' raises questions

Source: Associated Press

Oklahoma sports ‘biological sex affidavit’ raises questions

By CLIFF BRUNT
October 4, 2022

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James nearly was held out of playing this season because his parents objected to the “biological sex affidavit” Oklahoma public school athletes, from kindergarten to college, are now required to submit to participate. The form — part of a law its author says is aimed at ensuring girls’ and women’s teams allow only cisgender females — asks what sex a student was at birth.

J.D. said James’ mother considered it government overreach and “none of their business.” They considered not turning in the form for their son, who is cisgender.

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the “Save Women’s Sports Act” into law in March, one of more than a dozen state laws across the country that target transgender athletes. It bans public elementary, middle school, high school and college athletes from competing on the sports teams of their gender identity if that is different from their sex assigned at birth.

Oklahoma is believed to be the only state to also require the affidavit — what critics call a “gender oath” — to play sports.

Critics of the law and the affidavit believe such legislation serves an indirect purpose. Many GOP-led states have pushed culture wars issues that energize conservative voters onto their agendas heading into November’s midterm elections. ...

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-united-states-gay-rights-5814b6365cf8f96b6be49e2d4b72616a