Okla. Gov. Stitt signs bill banning transgender competitors from playing on women’s sports teams

March 31, 2022 Amber Coakley US 0

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a bill in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams. Stitt signed the bill flanked by more than a dozen young female athletes, including his eighth-grade daughter Piper. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:46 AM PT – Thursday, March 31, 2022

Oklahoma enacted a new bill, banning transgender competitors from playing on women’s sports teams. On Wednesday, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) officially signed into law the Save Women’s Sports Act.

The Republican took to Twitter to state that Oklahoma stands with female athletes and will protect women’s sports. The governor thanked the group of female athletes who joined him during the legislation’s signing.

In Oklahoma, we stand with female athletes and will protect women’s sports.

Thank you to all of the female athletes who joined me as I signed the Save Women’s Sports Act into law today. pic.twitter.com/WfNqVr4Uy8

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) March 30, 2022

This comes amid controversy over collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas competing as the first-ever transgender athlete to win an NCAA division title.

FILE – Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas waits for results after swimming the women’s 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, Friday, March 18, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Republican governors of two states this week vetoed legislation to ban transgender players from girls’ sports, but their decisions to buck the party’s conservative wing could prove short-lived against a fired-up GOP base. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)o

“Boys should compete against boys and let’s be clear, that’s all this bill says,” stated the Oklahoma governor. “It says athletic teams designated for females, woman, or girls shall not be open to students of the male sex. What we are trying to accomplish here is very, very simple. We are protecting women’s sports.”

Stitt said this bill is “just common sense.” The governor added, he wants to ensure “a level playing field” for girls who want to excel in their respective sport.