Montgomery: Alabama legislators on Wednesday gave final approval of legislation that would write definitions of male and female to state law that exclude transgender people from being recognized under their gender identity.
The House of Representatives voted 77-12 for the bill that defines the gender based on reproductive bodies that exist at birth. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay ivey who has promised to sign it. “I look forward to signing it in law to codify common sense!” Ivey said in a statement published on the social platform X after the passage of the bill.
The Alabama legislation was approved because more Republican led states look to adopt laws that define men and women. Nine states have similar laws, and several others are pushing to adopt more laws this year after President Donald Trump’s executive order explains that there are two genders and reject the idea that people can switch to another gender.
“In Alabama we have common sense. We know what a woman is. We know that God created us or woman, that our gender is fixed and decisive at birth, ”said Republican Rep Susan Dubose, the sponsor of the bill.
Some Republicans who support the bill said that it is needed to protect “only women” spaces and prevent transgender people from entering these spaces. Transgender people said that the bills are an attempt to deny their existence or take advantage of prejudice for political gain.
Zephyr Scalzetti, a trans genus, said that the bill can have sweeping consequences for transgender people because it would affect how they are seen under the law. Scalzetti said the bill is “much more reaching” than just bathrooms.
“The goal is not to protect women. The goal is to eradicate transgender people. It has been very obvious and public, ”said Scalzetti.
Republicans put the bill on a calendar that limits the debate time to 10 minutes. This type of limited debate calendar is usually used for non -controversial bills.
“Don’t you think the individuals affected deserve more than 10 minutes,” rope said. Barbara Drummond, a Democrat from Mobile and adds that they need intentional debate about something that affects people’s lives.
The house rules chairman Joe Lovvorn responded that the bill had been discussed in Alabama Statehouse off and on over the past two years.
A’niya Robinson, American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama’s director of politics and organization, called Bill part of a “great focus on the lives of transgender people.”
“SB79 is not compatible with Alabama values ​​and will unfortunately lead to unnecessary injury, pain and suffering, especially among Alabama’s youth. It is impossible to delete who someone is and it is anything but common sense to pretend that they do not exist, ”Robinson said.