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The Florida House has begun to take up HB 1475, which would ban transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports.
Read our previous coverage of this issue, and follow along with this thread as I track the floor developments: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/12/if-florida-transgender-sports-bill-passes-ncaa-says-it-could-pull-championships/
Read our previous coverage of this issue, and follow along with this thread as I track the floor developments: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/12/if-florida-transgender-sports-bill-passes-ncaa-says-it-could-pull-championships/
. @ChrisLatvala asks bills sponsor, @KayleeTuck2 whether the bill discriminates against transgender kids. She says it doesn't; trans kids can still play sports.
The bill's detractors disagree w/ this: if kids can't play with the group they identify w/ it's damaging, they argue.
The bill's detractors disagree w/ this: if kids can't play with the group they identify w/ it's damaging, they argue.
. @CarlosGSmith asks Tuck about the NCAA's statement on potentially pulling championships from Florida. @KayleeTuck2 says "the economic impact of this is all speculative."
Lawmakers are referring a lot to "biological males" and "biological females," sweeping terms that do not include rare — but not unprecedented — births in which babies have ambiguous gender characteristics or aspects of both male and female anatomy.
https://isna.org/faq/frequency/
https://isna.org/faq/frequency/
We're now onto amendments.
@CarlosGSmith proposes an amendment that'd put the FHSAA and NCAA policies into statute. Read about those policies here:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/03/15/florida-bills-would-stop-transgender-athletes-from-playing-womens-sports/
Amendment also allows elementary/middle school trans kids to play on whatever team.
@CarlosGSmith proposes an amendment that'd put the FHSAA and NCAA policies into statute. Read about those policies here:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/03/15/florida-bills-would-stop-transgender-athletes-from-playing-womens-sports/
Amendment also allows elementary/middle school trans kids to play on whatever team.
. @OmariJHardy is absolutely fired up as this amendment is debated.
He's saying the party in power shouldn't pass a bill which he says discriminates against "sexual minorities."
“We believe in the rights of the minority this country,” he said, basically yelling.
He's saying the party in power shouldn't pass a bill which he says discriminates against "sexual minorities."
“We believe in the rights of the minority this country,” he said, basically yelling.
. @CarlosGSmith's amendment fails by a vote of 39-77.
That's one amendment down out of 19. It took 21 minutes to litigate the amendment — at this rate, we will be here for another ~6 hours.
That's one amendment down out of 19. It took 21 minutes to litigate the amendment — at this rate, we will be here for another ~6 hours.
Smith files another amendment, which would exempt elementary and middle school kids from the bill.
"We're literally talking about babies who have not yet hit puberty and who should not be pulled into this political mess created by the Florida House of Representatives."
"We're literally talking about babies who have not yet hit puberty and who should not be pulled into this political mess created by the Florida House of Representatives."
A quick note: this thread is mostly going to include the voices of Democrats. That's because Dems have filed 19 amendments onto this bill, so they're doing lots of talking today. Trying to tack amendments onto bills is the minority party's chance to be heard.
The amendment exempting middle and elementary schoolers from the ban of transgender athletes from girls' sports fails.
2 amendments down, 17 to go.
2 amendments down, 17 to go.
Now @FentriceForFL offers an amendment just exempting elementary school kids from the bill.
"We know that just based on the science alone, it's not even relevant to include elementary school students. So why don't we leave them out of this?"
"We know that just based on the science alone, it's not even relevant to include elementary school students. So why don't we leave them out of this?"
A fourth amendment, filed by Rep. Arrington, D-Kissimmee, would upend the gender testing procedures brought forth in HB 1475 Tuck's bill.
Tuck's bill requires kids to have their genders tested by a genetic test, testosterone test or an inspection of the kid's genitalia by a Dr.
Tuck's bill requires kids to have their genders tested by a genetic test, testosterone test or an inspection of the kid's genitalia by a Dr.
The amendment fails.
4 down, 15 to go.
4 down, 15 to go.
Another amendment by Democratic Rep. Harrington would force a school or sports league — i.e. not the athlete in question — to pay for any potential gender testing that would happen under the bill.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/281703/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/281703/PDF
This has been a long debate, but the House floor is pretty sparse right now. Lots of lawmakers have moved off the floor to the nearby “bubble” as amendments to HB 1475 are taken up.
Rep. Arrington's amendment fails.
5 down, 14 to go.
5 down, 14 to go.
Now an amendment by Democratic Rep. @micheleforfl, which also deals with the gender verification parts of HB 1475 — provisions which Rayner says would "further subject" transgender athletes to "humiliation."
. @CarlosGSmith calls for his Republican colleagues to engage in more debate as amendments are brought forth:
"If...you think we should inspect their genitals when there's a dispute about their gender identity, stand up and tell us why."
"If...you think we should inspect their genitals when there's a dispute about their gender identity, stand up and tell us why."
Most lawmakers made it back to the floor to vote down Rayner's amendment 41-76.
6 down, 13 to go.
6 down, 13 to go.
Rep. Arrington introduces an amendment allowing transgender athletes to prove their birth gender with a birth certificate instead of the methods provided in HB 1475.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
Arrington's amendment fails.
7 down, 12 to go.
7 down, 12 to go.
Democrat @OmariJHardy introduces an amendment allowing kids to sue if they are harmed by the implementation of the bill.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
Hardy's amendment fails. 8 down, 11 to.
Another amendment by @OmariJHardy would not allow kids who sue to remove a transgender athlete from a competition under the law to get monetary damages.
The amendment fails after no debate.
9 down, 10 to go.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
The amendment fails after no debate.
9 down, 10 to go.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/968127/PDF
Now an amendment by @AnnaForFlorida which would essentially put the NCAA's policy on transgender athletes in women's sports into state law.
Trans athletes would have to take hormone replacement therapy & testosterone blockers for 1 year to compete.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/473733/PDF
Trans athletes would have to take hormone replacement therapy & testosterone blockers for 1 year to compete.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/473733/PDF
. @OmariJHardy again calls for more debate from House Republicans. So far almost every one of the Democrats' proposals has been given the silent treatment by the party in power, then voted down.
Eskamani's is no exception. It fails.
10 down, 9 to go.
Eskamani's is no exception. It fails.
10 down, 9 to go.
Democrat @AnnaForFlorida introduces an amendment which would exempt transgender girls who did not go through male puberty because they used puberty blockers.
Eskamani's amendment fails.
11 down, 8 to go.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/509167/PDF
11 down, 8 to go.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/509167/PDF
Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, introduces an amendment which would not let taxpayers foot the bill for any lawsuits that HB 1475 could be subjected to.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/516593/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/516593/PDF
Nixon's amendment fails.
However, I have been miscounting this whole time. One of the amendments I had in my tally has been withdrawn.
12 down, *6* to go.
However, I have been miscounting this whole time. One of the amendments I had in my tally has been withdrawn.
12 down, *6* to go.
Democrat Susan Valdés introduces an amendment which would block the implementation of HB 1475 until it is reviewed by the federal Department of Education for compliance with Title IX.
This one's sure to pass, Republicans love Joe Biden's education takes.
This one's sure to pass, Republicans love Joe Biden's education takes.
Valdés' amendment fails.
13 down, 5 to go.
13 down, 5 to go.
Rep. Arrington with another amendment. This one would exempt athletes traveling from out of state to compete in Florida from the bill's provisions. I believe she offered this amendment when the bill was heard in an earlier committee. It failed then.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/856833/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/856833/PDF
A Republican speaks for the 1st time in many hours!
Rep. Chip LaMarca blasts the NCAA, saying they've no moral authority.
"To use them as a model for our students and our kids is just not the right thing."
More on how the NCAA plays into the debate: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/12/if-florida-transgender-sports-bill-passes-ncaa-says-it-could-pull-championships/
Rep. Chip LaMarca blasts the NCAA, saying they've no moral authority.
"To use them as a model for our students and our kids is just not the right thing."
More on how the NCAA plays into the debate: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/04/12/if-florida-transgender-sports-bill-passes-ncaa-says-it-could-pull-championships/
Rep. Arrington says her district would lose tourism money from the NCAA boycotting the state. This is true, but good to note that the economic impact of sporting events is often exaggerated by local governments.
Anyway, her amendment fails 41-75.
14 down, 4 to go.
Anyway, her amendment fails 41-75.
14 down, 4 to go.
Rep. Benjamin, D-Miami Gardens, offers an amendment which would only allow the provisions of the bill to take place once a federal lawsuit involving a near-identical Idaho law is settled.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/633057/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/633057/PDF
Benjamin's amendment fails. 15 down, 3 to go.
. @micheleforfl proposes an amendment which would have the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at FSU submit a "racial impact statement" on the bill.
Rayner has argued Black trans women are especially susceptible to being called "too masculine."
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/673777/PDF
Rayner has argued Black trans women are especially susceptible to being called "too masculine."
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/673777/PDF
Rayner's amendment fails. Down to the final 2 amendments.
Rep. Smith offers an amendment which would allow the transgender athletes currently playing scholastic sports in Florida to keep playing in a way that's consistent with their gender identity. Which brings us to an important point...
A transgender athlete playing sports in a way that does not conform with the gender assigned to them at birth is exceedingly rare. Dems have noted in past committee stops that just 11 athletes have ever gotten clearance from the FHSAA under its transgender participation policy.
After a speech by @CarlosGSmith during which his voice shook with emotion, the representative's amendment fails 39-77.
One more amendment to go.
One more amendment to go.
The final amendment is from @OmariJHardy. It would allow students who have their birth genders incorrectly questioned to sue the people who questioned them.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/930539/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1475/Amendment/930539/PDF
"If someone's going to lodge a complaint and dispute someone's sex, and if they're going to be wrong about that, they should have to pay," Hardy says.
His amendment fails.
This was the final amendment.
His amendment fails.
This was the final amendment.
The Florida House will vote on HB 1475 tomorrow.
That's all for now, thanks for following along, and please be kind to one another.
That's all for now, thanks for following along, and please be kind to one another.
