Former gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Darren Bailey has filed an anti-transgender school sports bill.
Bailey filed the bill in the State Senate on Monday, Nov. 12. He has opposed LGBTQ-supportive bills in the past.
The bill, SB4213, would amend the state’s school codes for public schools, state universities and community colleges to establish “a student’s sex shall be the student’s biological gender assigned at birth.” And it would require using a birth certificate issued at birth to confirm.
The bill was sent to the Senate Assignments Committee. With the Democratic super-majority, the bill will likely not make it out of committee, much less be passed by the full Senate.
Bills barring trans students from participating in sports that match their gender are one of the most common anti-trans bills submitted in state legislatures. According to Freedom for All Americans, at least 25 have been introduced across the country this year.
Three of Illinois’ neighboring states have passed similar bills.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a bill that bars trans women and girls from participating in all levels of school sports, including college, in March. Kentucky’s legislature overturned Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of a bill banning trans girls from participating in sports alongside their peers from sixth grade through college in April. The Indiana General Assembly overrode Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s (R) veto of a bill that bars transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports in May.