BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (CBS) – Transgender girls in Indiana are now banned from playing on school girls’ teams in that state.
The new law started on Friday for grades K through 12.
CBS 2’s Marissa Perlman spoke to the parents of a transgender athlete about what it can mean when trans students meet in Indiana.
Kirin Clawson is now 9 years old. From an early age, she showed her parents – Nathaniel and Beth – her love for singing, dancing, and sports.
“She’s eager to try something, and she’s very, very athletic,” Beth Clawson said.
Kirin’s parents in Bloomington, Indiana, told us that expressing herself is their daughter’s superpower.
“She likes to be transgender – as if it’s important to her – but it’s not something you think about much until people start talking about her,” said Beth Clawson.
But now, people are talking – about Kirin and other trans girls in Indiana, who as of July 1 are now banned from playing on school girls teams in the state.
“Being told no made it much more important for her to play sports,” said Beth Clawson.
Sponsors of the bill say it is necessary to protect the integrity of the competition and the opportunities to obtain athletic scholarships.
In March, the legislation was vetoed by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb – who said the bill leaves too many questions unanswered. But the veto was overturned by the Indiana General Assembly in May.
One of those unanswered questions was, what happens when transgender students from Illinois meet teams on the Indiana turf?
“It hurts all the girls,” Beth Clawson said. “It doesn’t just hurt trans girls.”
Indiana House Bill 1041 has yet to explain how out-of-state athletes will be affected in the competition. The American Civil Liberties Union says that when there is some kind of crossover, Illinois athletes can still play.
The ACLU outlines the guidelines of the Illinois High School Association. They allow transgender athletes to play as long as they follow “school procedures”
These procedures include the disclosure of medical documentation such as hormonal treatments, sexual reassignment surgery, counseling, and medical personnel, as well as the disclosure of gender identity-related benefits for approved participation.
Meanwhile, along with sports, Kirin has a growing passion for politics. She wrote a letter to an Indiana lawmaker about the bill, saying, “I want to be able to play sports – please vote no. Thank you.”
Kirin is learning the legal system in her home state so she can protect her rights.
“She heard every single thing that senators and representatives said about her – positive and negative,” Beth Clawson said. “She’s tougher than we are, I think.”
“It’s a very tough cookie,” Nathaniel Clawson added.
A total of 18 states have banned or severely restricted transgender girls and women from playing in teams that align with their gender identity.
Most states have enacted these laws despite very few – or even zero – trans girls even playing in sports teams.
The Indiana ACLU has filed an injunction on the bill.
