The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would bar transgender students from playing on school sports teams based on their gender identities.
House Bill 25 would require that public school athletic teams must be based on students' genders on their birth certificates at or near the time of birth.
The Texas House just voted to exclude Trans kids from playing sports as authentic selves, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas tweeted, adding that the fight against it and similar bills was not over.
A coalition of businesses in Texas has released a letter this week opposing what it called efforts to exclude transgender youths from participation in their communities. Amazon, Dell and American Airlines are among the signatorsies.
Rep. Valoree Swanson, a Republican who supported the bill, has argued that it would protect equal participation of girls in school sports.
The University Interscholastic League, which governs K-12 public school sports in Texas, uses birth certificates to determine gender, but it recognizes certificates that are amended according to its website.
Rep. Stephanie Klick, a Republican who co-authored the bill, also said it was about fairness to girls.
Democrats have pointed out that no complaints have been filed with the Interscholastic League about specific transgender athletes competing in girls' sports, KXAN of Austin NBC affiliate reported.
The bill will go to the Senate next time.