Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson took action on Thursday to protect female athletes in the “Natural State.”
The governor signed SB354, dubbed the “‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which was delivered to his desk by the state Senate last week. The bill recognizes the “inherent differences between men and women,” and the physiological advantage afforded to biological males competing in non co-educational sports.
Gov. Hutchinson released the following statement regarding the legislation that is crucial to future of women’s sports:
“Today, I have signed into law SB354 called the ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act’. I have studied the law and heard from hundreds of constituents on this issue. I signed the law as a fan of women’s sports from basketball to soccer and including many others in which women compete successfully. This law simply says that female athletes should not have to compete in a sport against a student of the male sex when the sport is designed for women’s competition. As I have stated previously, I agree with the intention of this law. This will help promote and maintain fairness in women’s sporting events.”
The governor’s signing is being widely praised amongst conservatives. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian nonprofit, celebrated the passing of the bill last Tuesday:
“Comparably fit and trained males will always have physical advantages over females—that’s the reason we have girls’ sports. When we ignore science and biological reality, female athletes lose medals, podium spots, public recognition, and opportunities to compete.”
State chambers of commerce as well as the NCAA have pressed governors to veto similar legislation. According to the Associated Press, over 500 student athletes have petitioned for the NCAA to withdraw tournaments and championship games from states that have banned transgender participation in women’s sports. Pressure from the NCAA and fears of losing an Amazon distribution center caused South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to veto a similar bill presented to her last week.
Gov. Noem recently declined to sign similar legislation passed by the South Dakota House, issuing a “style and form” veto, requesting the bill be gutted of protections for collegiate athletics. Although suggested changes were expected to be made by Monday, the House rejected her veto, sending the bill back to her desk.
Vote to pass the governor's style and form veto on the Fairness for Woemn's Sports bill fails 2-67. The bill now goes back to the governor for her to either sign or veto. House believes her style-and-form is unconstitutional.
— Rep. Fred Deutsch (@FredDeutsch) March 29, 2021
Governor Noem had previously voiced her support for the legislation on International Women’s Day:
Noem began to backpedal, siding with the interest of lobbyists over her own voters. Attorney Matt McCaulley of Sioux Falls currently serves as a top adviser to Governor Kristi Noem. McCaulley is one of the state’s most powerful lobbyists for the Chamber of Commerce. The Federalist reported that McCaulley boasts a long list of corporate interests which include Sanford Health. Sanford Health performs gender transition procedures for minors and owns an arena in Sioux Falls that may play host to future NCAA tournaments.
Although similar legislation has been introduced in over 20 states this year, Noem claims that the women’s sports bill would allow the NCAA to take punitive action against the state. In an attempt to restore her political image, she took to “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and said that “legal scholars” have told her she would likely lose these litigation efforts.
A leftist outcry has ensued on Twitter after the passing of both SB354 and Arkansas House Bill 1570 which bans gender reassignment procedures on minors:
HB 1570 was just passed through both chambers in the Arkansas legislature, banning trans youth from accessing health care and health insurance coverage that we deserve and need.
Our rights and lives are under attack.
Governor Hutchinson must veto this bill.
— ACLU (@ACLU) March 29, 2021
