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New bill would ban transgender/intersex student's gender identity in school sports

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A bill introduced in the state legislature would ban transgender and intersex school athletes from playing on a team that corresponds with their gender identity.

The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Lana Theis, would require school athletes to compete on a team of their sex assigned at birth. 

Kaine St. Amour is an intersex athlete. He says the bill would create confusion as to who is allowed on a team.

“I think the bill was drafted without consideration of a trans men, b intersex people and c girls who just look a little bit more masculine. Like it's just going to create a whole lot of headache for coaches and athletes and schools.”

Instead of crafting bills to exclude athletes like him from playing, St. Amour says he would like to see legislation that includes and protects trans and intersex athletes. 

Theis says the bill would allow girls to compete in a -quote- “level playing field.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Career Readiness.