The lawmaker behind a Wyoming bill seeking to ban trans women from playing high school and college sports on women’s teams didn’t even know that the state already had a policy in place regarding trans athlete participation.
Ron Laird, the commissioner of the Wyoming High School Activities Association, told the York News-Times that he recently spoke to the bill’s lead sponsor, state Sen. Wendy Schuler (R), and said she was completely unaware of this statewide policy.
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The policy says all students can be “considered for the opportunity to participate in Wyoming High School Activities Association activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.”
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Athletes can also appeal decisions to a “gender identity eligibility committee.”
“We feel that our policy has worked,” Laird said, adding that it makes more sense for these decisions to be handled on a local level where those who actually know the students are making the decisions.
“The school makes the determination, and that’s why its effective – because the school knows that student,” Laird said.
Schuler has also since been made aware not only that the policy exists, but that it has rarely even been necessary to use it. Nevertheless, she has maintained her position that the bill will “protect women and girls.”
“Let’s just nip it in the bud,” she said. “I’m just trying to be proactive. I think it will become bigger deal than it is now. This bill would make it pretty black and white.”
