Transgender athlete bill introduced in Delaware

DOVER, De-  A new Bill introduced in Delaware would require all student-athletes to compete for teams associated with their biological sex.

The bill would in-effect ban trans-athletes from competing in the divisions of the gender they now identify with.

“All we are trying to do with this act is protect fairness and equity in sports so that males compete against males and females compete against females,” said the bill’s main sponsor Rep. Timothy Dukes.

He says schools would have to verify gender based on birth certificates, or other forms of ID, and rely on students to declare that information to athletics directors and school administrators.

Advocates say outing trans athletes that way could have severe consequences.

“Outing these kids could put them at risk of harm, violence, murder, bullying I’ve seen it hundreds of times over the last 15 years,” said Trans Healthcare provider at Chase Brexton Easton Deborah Dunn. She says she spent those 15 years working to administer gender-affirming hormone treatment and therapy for transgender patients across Delmarva.

She says trans athletes don’t have a competitive edge, especially if they are transitioning with hormone treatments.

“trans women who are taking estrogen are feminizing, their musculature have dramatically decreased they are not anywhere near as strong as they were before they transitioned,” Dunn said.

Dunn says the bill would eliminate opportunities for trans athletes and increase the stigma around their identity.

“They are really hurtful and they worsen the dysphoria and could cause severe anxiety and depression,” she said adding “These are not boys in girls clothes competing against girls these are women competing against other women.”

Representative Dukes says, he is not a medical expert and that he wants to work with the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to draft guidelines for those that have undergone hormone therapy. Dunn says that’s exactly the type of guidance that medical experts like her should be part of drafting. She says she is already on the LGBTQ Commission in Maryland and would welcome the opportunity to be on a similar panel in Delaware.