Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act relating to student eligibility requirements in school district and accredited nonpublic school athletics based on sex.(See HF 2416.)

Subcommittee members: Wheeler-CH, Mascher, Stone

Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022

Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Location: RM 102, Sup. Ct. Consult

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

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02-09-2022

JOYCE Schneider []

I am in favor of HF 2309! A biological male participating in womens sports is unfair to women across the country. We must protect the rights of women to participate in sports with other biological females. Womens Sports must be saved.

02-09-2022

Kathryn Hall []

I urge you to set this bill aside. This bill is detrimental to all youthespecially transgender youth who deserve to participate in athletic programs that teach them teamwork, persistence and goal setting.

02-09-2022

Nick Oswald []

02-09-2022

Heather Mathre []

Trans girls are girls and deserve to play sports just like everyone else. Banning trans girls from sports is discrimination. By trying to ban trans girls from sports you are deliberately telling trans girls that they are somehow less of a person than everyone only because they do not conform to your feelings of who you think they should be. You should be supporting them and helping to ensure their lives are respected, uplifted, and safe. Instead, you are allowing yourselves as well as others to direct discrimination and hate towards them making life even harder and unsafe. Shame on you all.

02-09-2022

Amber Gustafson []

This bill violates the equal protection clauses of both the US Constitution and the Iowa Constitution.It punches down on some of the most vulnerable kids in our schools.It endangers federal funding to our public schools.It opens out state up to lawsuits for Title X violations.It is not based in science and does not reflect the realities of girls athletics in the state of Iowa. As the parent of a transgender child I strongly urge you to vote no.

02-09-2022

Jesse Reeves []

As a girls softball coach for several years my stance this. Girls play girls unless they want to compete with males that generally have an advantage. All I see is let the kids compete and yes I agree. Let them compete but at their own born sex. If Bill was born a male then transitioned into Becky that person can still play a male sport. There is a transgender swimmer in the news at this point, if allowed to switch to female she would dominate the sport. Ask yourself why would anyone for the love of womens sports be ok with a biological male being number 1? This doesnt make sense. I love kids sports and want all kids to love and play but lets be real. unfortunately biological men have an advantage in most sports to females period. Let me leave you with this. I read the there are roughly 150 high school male sprinters in the USA that can beat the #1 women in the world fastest time at this time at the 100 meter dash. Is this what we are aiming for?

02-09-2022

CJ Petersen []

They say youre able to tell a persons character by the company they keep. The people of Iowa do not want to be in the company of an antiChristian, antiLGBTQ hate group like the Family Leaderwhich, unfortunately, neither leads nor represents families. Transgender kids deserve our support and understanding, not our judgment and hate. Please vote no on this bill.

02-09-2022

Michelle Veach []

Please, protect girls rights to compete against biological girls only. We will irreparably harm girls as they cannot win against a biological boy. We will create mental illness, depression and despair amongst biological girls, if they have to compete against biological boys (meaning they are born male) who are stronger, faster. Let iowa be a place where common sense is written into law. Please protect our girls. Michelle Veach Mom of Gavin (boy), and Gabi (girl aged 13)

02-09-2022

Whitney Free []

All children deserve to participate in sports and school activities no matter their gender. Trans children are already at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide attempts. This bill will make school an even less welcoming and safe place. This causes harm to vulnerable Iowans. No transphobic laws should be acceptable to our state. It is also abhorrent and disgusting that lawmakers spend so much of their time focusing on the genitals of minors. Those who do so should be immediately removed from office as they are in violation of state laws. Finally, I ask our legislators to spend time on more urgent issues like the pandemic and racial justice.

02-09-2022

Kathy Graeve []

Vote no on this discriminatory bill. Trans children and teens are human beings who deserve respect and the ability to participate in sports is a right they are entitled to. The research does not support the assertion that trans athletes have an unfair advantage. Also, each time one of these uninformed and cruel bills is introduced, calls to suicide hotlines increase. Please stop trying to harm trans children.

02-09-2022

Mary Wilcynski []

Please do not discriminate against transgender children. Oh my gosh! Those kids are so incredibly vulnerable as it is, its just inhumane to add to their burdens. They are not a threat to anyone or to any sport. Please! Lets get sensible.

02-09-2022

Amy Dea []

I support this bill! I am grateful it was drafted! We must protect our girls sports! These young ladies have worked and trained for their sport. Give them the opportunity to compete fairly! Protect girls sports!

02-09-2022

Jill Bjorklund []

This bill is discriminatory and dangerous because it tells an already vulnerable population their identity isnt real and there is no place for them in society. It will also force many kids to out themselves. As a parent of a trans daughter, hear me when I say this bill will endanger lives. I beg you to protect our trans youth.

02-09-2022

Jamie Martin []

All children need to find a place in the world. All humans require a feeling of belonging. There are a number of ways to ensure this happens and not a single one should be to exclude a child. I support the biological gender stance based on a number of things I have seen in the binary stance we as a society have now. In team sports a lesser athlete is condemned simply due to knowledge of the sport or lack there of. Parents ridicule the kid who is not that good and/or ridicule the parents. This is not good or positive development for a child who identifies any way. Children all need to understand that the first thing they are is people with feelings and activities are things they should like to do not have to do. My second comment on this would relate to the thought that biological genders should participate with persons who do not feel they are biological genders. As a human we are all asked to fit a mold by society and by some thoughts people have. I do not think fitting the mold is important. It is so hard to tell someone they cannot do something and no one wants to do it, but a biological boy or a biological girl have different scientific components.

02-09-2022

Tara Helwig []

I believe that someones birthed gender should be the only criteria considered when being placed on and competing on a sports team at any level. It is the only equitable solution. It is simply not fair for women to have to compete with men/boys who feel like a women but are physically built like a man. I understand the sentiment, but its just not fair or equitable for women. Thank you

02-09-2022

Mandy Gilbert []

Please protect biological women in sports. As a mother to a female athlete, please ensure their current protections to participate equally as biological female separately from their biological male counterparts. Science has proven that biological men have unique bone and muscle density and structure that gives them an advantage in competition in comparison to a females anatomy in sports. Many have worked hard over the years to ensure women were able to have equal opportunities in sports competition. By allowing biological males to compete alongside females, we are removing women from the playing field. What world do we live in when you say women must compete against a man to achieve success as a FEMALE athlete?

02-09-2022

Deborah Ashbaugh []

I support this bill. It's not fair or equitable to the majority of students to compete with the opposite sex athletically. Most males are genetically stronger than females. Potentially disqualifying females from even competing. Eventually, males will dominant female athletics. Genetically born females are at a unfair disadvantage. Please do your part to right this injustice.

02-09-2022

Andrea Geary []

I am in strong opposition to this hateful & discriminatory bill, which was introduced solely to fundraise & drum up the Republican base, employing fearmongering to a manufactured problem. Merely the introduction of this garbage will result in increased mental health trauma for kids, if not suicide; you should be ashamed of yourselves. Kindly find a legit platform which addresses the many real challenges Iowans face everyday.

02-09-2022

M B []

I am in favor of this bill. I am also in favor of wanting all kids to be able to play and participate in the activities they enjoy. But having biological males competing against biological females is NOT fair nor safe. There are plenty of adult athletes in the media spotlight right now that have proven that having testosterone gives the male gender an unfair advantage. It allows muscles and abilities to develop differently. I would not want my daughters to have to compete against someone who could potentially hurt them badly in a physical sport (take the MMA fighter Fallon Fox fracturing the orbital bone in the skull of Tamikka Brents) or diminish their scholarship or recognition opportunities because they can never be physically faster than someone who was born as a different gender (as in Lia Thomas). Women's sports should be against other women, men against men. Help create teams that will encompass others who don't fit into those biological categories if you want to. We would not put a person with special needs up against someone who had full abilities either. We try to level the playing field so that all has the opportunity to have fun, feel the sense of belonging to a team, and have the ability to excel in their sport.

02-09-2022

Mark Bjorklund []

I oppose HF 2309. Why further discriminate against an already vulnerable population? Just seems so unnecessary when there are other issues that matter way more to the majority of Iowans. Protect trans youth.

02-09-2022

Jasmin Smith []

This bill is discriminatory, violent, and a relic of a bygone era. Children deserve support and encouragement whether they are transgender, cisgender, or not sure yet where they fall on the gender spectrum. Bills like this only hurt trans kids who are already at high risk for bullying and rejection in their families. Let kids be kids and play as their true selves. Stop forcing rigid, old fashioned ideas about gender down childrens throats because YOU are uncomfortable. Bills like this do nothing but hurt and isolate already vulnerable children, pushing them in too many cases to harm themselves. Educate yourself on what it means to be gender expansive and stop marginalizing gender expansive children.

02-09-2022

Susan Helling []

I do NOT support this bill. Please do let let it go further as it is dangerous for trans children. Research is clear to the impact participation in extracurricular activities like athletics can have on a childs sense of belonging. This bill is discriminatory and poses threats to childrens mental health.

02-10-2022

Andrea Welch []

Students deserve an opportunity to equally participate in extracurricular activities, including sports. Eligibility restrictions based on sex are wrong. This bill is discriminatory and, as such, needs to be shut down.

02-10-2022

Chris Bice []

I am fully against this bill. It is discriminatory and just bad policy. Everyone deserves to participate in athletics in high school, regardless of their gender status. This bill hides behind the guise of "fairness", but all it is, is another attempt to marginalize those kids that short sighted "adults" see as different. Don't allow our state legislature to be yet another bully that children have to worry about.

02-10-2022

Thalassa Walter []

This bill would legitimize the unsubstantiated claims that trans people are/will dominate sports. Please dismiss the bill and reject any further attempts to make regulations based on our children's genitals. Its a gross invasion based on fear mongering. I thought we trusted Iowans?

02-10-2022

David Balluff []

Why are Republicans in the state making it so hard for teachers to teach, nurses to care for people, and for kids to just be kids? Rather than focus on real issues of concern for Iowans, like the quality of our water, the extremists in the Iowa State house are figuring out how they can promote bigotry and vilify a small powerless section of our population children no less. You all should be ashamed at yourselves. Cravenly pandering to bigots isnt making Iowa a better place to live, its turning our state into a bigot backwater.

02-10-2022

Happy Carter []

I support this bill. We cannot ignore the fact there are differences between boys and girls with athletics especially at a young age. Most importantly when they hit puberty. We have many restrictions in sports to try to keep things fair and give everyone opportunities. For example with wrestling there are weight classes for a reason, same as we do genders. I have a daughter and a son who are both athletes, we need to make sure our girls dont lose their opportunities too.

02-10-2022

Melissa Rogers []

This bill is completely discriminatory. Did you know there is more than one biological sex? People can be born XXY, just X, and others can be born intersex or even outwardly presenting as female with testes due to Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. If those biological variations exist, how can we be so set in what makes one male vs. female when it comes to gender?

02-10-2022

Jill Emehiser []

I am in favor of HF 2309! A biological male participating in womens sports is unfair to women across the country. No matter your current identity, biological males participate in only male sports and biological females only participate in female sports.

02-10-2022

Becca Kramer []

Thank you for this bill. Please see it through. The physical safety of my 3 daughters depends on the integrity of the games. Please do not discriminate again womenkeep an equal playing field so no biological males have an advantage in strength and speed. There is no evidence opening womens sports to everyone will help trans kids in preventing suicide as so many are indicating.

02-10-2022

Jamie Smith []

This bill is full of bigotry and discrimination. The same argument that females need protecting was used to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and POC. We dont need shelter or protection, we need leadership that is inclusive and fair.

02-10-2022

Anna Helzer []

In to addition to being harmful to trans children and their friends, this bill is unnecessarily discriminatory. Children are on average the same size and have similar athletic abilities across genders until puberty, so this bill would harm the mental, emotional, and social health of young trans kids for no reason other than promoting hatred and discrimination. Even at higher levels, trans athletes are not winning unfairly. Please read the actual research instead of focusing on stories promoted by media to make you angry.https://www.insidehook.com/article/sports/transathleteswinboyssports/amp?twitterimpression=truehttps://www.npr.org/2021/03/18/978716732/waveofnewbillssaytransathleteshaveanunfairedgewhatdoesthesciences

02-10-2022

Nina Summers []

I do not support this bill. Please note that commenters referring to "biological males" are repeating talking points from a playbook. They may mean well, but the people who crafted such talking points do not. This bill is discriminatory. Furthermore, trans youth are one of the highestrisk groups in this country for suicide but for trans kids who have genderaffirming support from adults in their lives, that risk drops dramatically.I am an ardent supporter of the right of girls and women, but to me that means ALL girls and women.Codifying this discrimination also opens up cisgender girls who are taller, bigger, stronger, etc to bring targeted and accused of being transgender, an effect that already disproportionately affects Black girls & women, who are frequently perceived as less feminine than their White peers.On a last point, given that girls' sports generally come with less funding and less prestige than boys' sports, it seems highly unlikely that boys will suddenly start attempting to join girls' teams for some kind of imagined competitive edge.

02-10-2022

Allison Bielenberg []

Please do NOT pass or move this bill forward. ALL kids should be able to play sports. As a parent of a female athlete the benefits of participating in sports are unending it shouldn't be denied to certain children. Imagine if I told my daughter that one of her friends can no longer play basketball with her because the state of Iowa deemed her not eligible due to lack of understanding, or just plain cruelty... That won't cause trauma for my daughter? Again, ALL children should be allowed to play sports and live safely in communities where they are accepted for who they are. They are human, they are people who will grow up to be amazing adults. Isn't that something we want in Iowa?Please do not pass this bill or move it one step further.Thank you Allison, accepting parent of a female athlete

02-10-2022

Jonathan Chenoweth []

I have read the draft of HF 2309 as well as the comments of my fellow Iowans, and I can only echo what C. Sims contributed so well: All children deserve to participate in sports and school activities no matter their gender. Trans children are already at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide attempts this bill will make school an even less welcoming and safe place. This solves no actual problems and causes harm to vulnerable Iowans. No transphobic laws should be acceptable to our state.Please abandon this harmful initiative.

02-10-2022

Jennifer Perry []

Im speaking out against this bill. Its discriminatory and will only encourage young people and companies to move out of Iowa. For a party who says they care about mental health you are writing bills that cause irreparable mental harm to people. You say you are pro life but only if those lives are lived on your terms. I encourage you to vote no and stop targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

02-10-2022

Allison Beck []

Please take some time to think about this bill before rushing it through to the floor. It may seem like a great idea to you now, but its creating a solution to a nonexistent problem.. Use your time to advocate for increased SSA instead.

02-10-2022

Kara Vorwald []

Trans children should be included into sports and activities. Its discriminatory to exclude them based on what gender they are. We should be encouraging our trans children not making them feel unloved and less than.

02-10-2022

Rutu Johnson []

This is just one more example of our Iowa legislators focusing on divisive, hateful nonissues instead of the real challenges facing our state. How will Iowa ever flourish when this is whats being portrayed as its image?

02-10-2022

Jennifer Machir []

As a female athlete, and one that generally physically aligned more with men (naturally muscular/strong in my days of athletics). I still could not compete with men/boys in sports. I was just under 6ft tall, could squat significant weight, and was able to run a mile in 7 minutes. Despite this, it was still incredibly tough to keep up/play against boys in pickup games. Its incredibly important to me, now as a mother of 2 girls, that they're allowed to grow and flourish in athletics (should they choose) without the possibility of the other gender creating unnecessary obstacles. We've come so far with women's rights and celebrating everything that makes women amazing. I'm all for creating options for people, in order to be inclusive. But you absolutely cannot take away freedoms/rights of one demographic to appease another. My daughters, and all daughters everywhere deserve better than to 1. Feel they'll do well enough 2. That their voice doesn't matter.

02-10-2022

Ingrid Conley-Abrams []

If your sports program doesn't serve all children, it is not a program worth having. Trans children are children and deserve to participate and have fun. They deserve a feeling of significance and belonging, just like all children.

02-10-2022

Ethan Madsen []

This is a disgusting attack on people's freedoms. How bored do you have to be screwing up this state that this is an "issue" you try to resolve. Shame on you for attempting to ostricize people who are already dealt a bad hand in this society. Not proud to call mysepf an Iowa with things like this happening.

02-10-2022

Ashley Dingman []

I support this bill in order to protect biological female athletes who are put at an unfair physical disadvantage when competing against biological males. We separate male and female sports for a reason and it's to level the playing field, not to discriminate.

02-10-2022

Shalome Musignac Jordan [Wellmark]

I oppose this bill. It EXCLUDES and TARGETS Trans girls and women. This bill is saying that only some girls and women are worth protecting and including and that is not okay. It continues to tell trans girls and women that you do not believe in their existence. Trans girls and women have the same rights to compete and exist in spaces they are at without fear of persecution or exclusion. I am a woman and want all trans girls and women to have the same rights and opportunities as me including in sports and other activities. We deserve bills that include all communities in Iowa not only those reflected in the Iowa Legislature. This bills makes it even more unsafe for Trans girls and women who are already targeted and harmed at an alarming rate. Harm is mentioned in the bill and course of consequence. What about trans girls and women who will be harmed by the passing of this bill? Who will be liable for that when this bills continues to build unsafe environments for trans girls and women? Trans girls and women are our neighbors, family members and loved ones and they should be protected as such. Work with transled and serving organizations to become more, rather than less, inclusive and harmful.

02-10-2022

Marlee Myers []

This bill absolutely disgusting. Who ever wrote it should be ashamed of themselves. So since we couldnt get cameras in the class room we are now going to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. Way to go Iowa on taking a GAINT step backwards.

02-10-2022

Elizabeth Arnold []

This is a transphobic bill, introducing hate under the guise of protection of womens rights. Trans athletes are not more likely to win than cisgender athletes. Please let athletes play according to their identity

02-10-2022

Sara Miller []

The stakes of this bill are ridiculously high. Transgender teenagers already experience disproportionately high suicide & selfharm rates. Please don't codify their societal devaluation into law. Why would we use state resources to attack children? Girls competing against trans girls may struggle & face tough competition...that's the stuff that builds character, fuels drive & grows functioning adults that understand that life is hard, things don't always come easy & outcomes aren't always what we want...the stuff that athletics are supposed to teach our kids. Crafting laws to exclude some children based on how they were born? That teaches trans youth that they aren't worthy or welcome in school, not to mention broader society. If it were your child, how would you want them to be treated? As the mother of 1 bio boy & 2 bio girls in sports, I can honestly say I welcome the chances for them to grow & learn through their sports & at no time should their gender status give them the right to exclude anyone else. If they don't win, they learn to get back up & try again. I'd rather raise a resilient child than know that someone else is burying theirs.

02-10-2022

Jennifer Oredson []

I implore you to let this bill die in committee. It is misguided and hateful, and the rhetoric that it's protecting women's rights is a red herring. I have a trans child, and the last thing she needs is one more thing working against her. Until you've seen it in your own home, you have no idea the mental anguish that these kids go through without any additional help from the legislature trying to make them a lesser person. You simply cannot legislate someone's gender. It's the person's choice, and unless you're going to start examining genitals like monsters, you can't even enforce a law like this. I have a trans daughter and a biological daughter, and my biological girl is a hell of a swimmer. IF there is any merit to the physical aspect of this, then I'd rather she learn the life lessons that come through losing and being gracious and being inclusive than obsessively try to protect her pathway to success. That isn't how good adults are made. This bill is bad for biological girls AND trans girls.

02-09-2022

Meg Tisinger []

All children deserve to participate in sports and school activities no matter their gender. Trans children are already at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide attempts this bill will make school an even less welcoming and safe place. This solves no actual problems and causes harm to vulnerable Iowans. No transphobic laws should be acceptable to our state. It is also abhorrent and disgusting that lawmakers spend so much of their time focusing on the genitals of minors. Those who do so should be immediately removed from office as they are in violation of state laws.

02-09-2022

Tara Shukla Jones []

This bill is discriminatory and shouldn't be passed. Also fast tracking this bill without giving time to comment is antidemocratic. Trans children are at significantly increased risk of suicide. Taking away their ability to participate in school sports further isolates and marginalizes them. No one is threatening talented athletes no one is trying to"cheat" here. Sports are not meritocratic, genetic advantages, money and access always play a role. Girl's sports are underfunded compared to boys sports but suddenly everyone is worried about them? Give me a break. This bill is about bullying transgender youth, a "solution" in search of a problem. Shame on anyone who participates in this.

02-09-2022

Josie Lehman []

Yes all students deserve to play sports in the gender they are physically born with. Playing a sport with a gender that has a physical advantage is not only unfair, it can be harmful and cause injury. Trans gender does not mean your muscles have changed. Records, scholarships, and advancements are at stake as well.

02-09-2022

Cindy Waitt []

This bill is discrimination against trans children and could exacerbate bullying against these children and put their mental health at risk. A GLSEN study found that 75% of trans children feel unsafe ar school. This is not simply concern about peers but by adults as well. I have been an anti bullying activist for over 20 years, as well as being a social worker who specialized in youth. This bill denies the humanity of these children and risks increasing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

02-09-2022

Melissa McAllister []

This bill is discriminatory. All children should be allowed to participate in sports and school activities regardless of gender. Trans children are already at an increased risk for bullying, depression, and suicide attempts. Our goal should be to make school a safe space for ALL students. This bill would do the opposite. I urge you to vote Against this bill.

02-09-2022

Matt Busche []

This bill is discriminatory and puts children at risk. This bill is bullying codified into Iowa law. Trans children are already at greater risk for bullying, depression, and suicide attempts and this bill will make school an even less welcoming and safe place for our youth.

02-09-2022

Matthew Hill Neppel []

This bill isnt solving any issues. Additionally it further alienates trans youth. With this bill the state of Iowa is telling trans youth that they are not worthy of participating in sports simply for who they are. This will directly impact the mental health of these kids who are already at a much higher risk of being abandoned by their families and friends. 52% of trans and nonbinary youth contemplate suicide and one of the reasons cities is being the target of politicians. This is bad for kids, this is bad for sports, and this is bad for Iowa.

02-09-2022

Jackie Stellish []

Its time to stop listening to misinformation and hate. Its time to retire the wornout and continuously disproven arguments against young trans people. How many times do we need to go in circles before we give these children a break and let this fade into an unfortunate history lesson on recycled bigotry? Some Republicans in Iowa are obsessed with how other people live their lives its disgusting and they need to stop

02-09-2022

Ginny Mitchell []

This is one of the most important issues to my family. My daughter has been a wrestler for 5 years. Girls wrestling just got sanctioned here in Iowa. Allowing biological males to wrestle in the girls divisions is NOT OKAY. This is one reason it was so important to have this sport sanctioned for girls. Allowing biological males to compete in girls wrestling is just like not having girls wrestling sanctioned at all! We women have fought for decades to be able to compete in sports. These men that pretend to be women are setting us REAL women back. Allowing biological males to compete in womens sports is not equity. Please do the right thing and make males compete in males divisions only.

02-09-2022

Jenn Turner []

I SUPPORT this bill! Female athletes across this country are losing to biological males. These girls' have worked their whole lives to compete and now, are not able to follow their dreams Olympics, scholarships, state meets, etc. We must protect these athletes rights. Save Women's Sports!

02-09-2022

Melissa Ventura []

This bill is absolutely unnecessary and cruel. Stop making the lives of LGBTQ youth harder, let them be kids, let them enjoy their childhood, let them play sports! There is no place for this kind of discriminatory rhetoric, the legislators that initiated this and anyone that approves of this should be ashamed of themselves.

02-09-2022

Denise Warzak []

This bill is discriminatory and harmful to trans kids. It also begs the question of the definition of sex, even as used in this bill intersex people exist. If a girl with short hair wants to join a team, will you ask to see her birth certificate? A feminineseeming boy with long hair? If the girl appears feminine enough for your standards, you wouldnt ask to see proof? This bill as a whole is, quite frankly, a waste of time and taxpayer dollars, and has nothing to do with fairness or safety and everything to do with forcing others ideals onto young kids.

02-09-2022

Samantha Israel []

If you talk to your children, or their friends, or their teachers, and are involved in their school activities and play an active role in their education, then you would know that this is not an issue. Thankfully School staff and fellow students arent as hurtful and intolerant as Republicans lawmakers. Get rid of this bill and leave these kids alone already.

02-09-2022

Thomas Naeve []

I would vote in favor of HF 2309. We need to protect the integrity of sports for females. It is not fair for biological females to have to compete against biological males. That fact is science and cannot be disputed. It is not a level playing field. Womens rights must be protected. This is not a vote against the Trans community, only a vote to protect the fair and equitable provision of sports for girls in Iowa.

02-09-2022

Adam Witosky []

This bill is based in hate and fear. The attempt to speed run it into law makes it clear its supporters want this discrimination made legal before the public is fully aware of it. This law will result in a trans child suicide.

02-09-2022

Sherry Martin []

This bill is a discriminatory bill targeting transgender children. At a time when children are already going through some of the most difficult parts of their journey into adulthood, there is an attempt to make things even harder for them. While this bill targets transgender students, it also fails to recognize there are intersex students. They account for approximately 2% of the population. I look forward to the day when we return to "Iowa Nice".

02-09-2022

Crystal Huls []

This bill is discriminating against trans children. Trans Girls are GIRLS and Trans Boys are BOYS. Why are adults bullying, harassing, and segregating children in 2022? Lets do better. I am against this bill and I am embarrassed that it is being Brough tup at all. Iowa is better than this. We have real issues to address. Let kids participate where they feel the most comfortable.

02-09-2022

susanne Kennedy []

Say no to this horrible bill, let kids play sports there is not an issue here you are creating one. Trans kids are already vulnerable and don't need more obstacles, let them play. This bill is hateful and mean and should not move forward.

02-09-2022

Chad Brewbaker [Dallas County Libertarians ]

Girls wrestling took too long to form. Take the sex out of Junior Varsity, keep sex fairness for Varsity. Some schools will be able to field a Varsity boys volleyball team, maybe even a handful of girls football teams.

02-09-2022

Kathleen M Winter []

This bill is a solution looking for a problem. This is just an attempt to stir up hatred towards a group of young people who already feel marginalized. This is not an issue so why are you trying to make it one?????

02-09-2022

Tony Farrell []

Please do not pass or advance this discriminatory bill. First ask yourself if youve ever seen a transgender male compete as a girl? This is not an issue need to address, this only further discourages people from understanding selves. The bill would also require children to submit to examination and disclosure of private information.

02-09-2022

Crystal Parsons []

In sports where there are options for both genders, there is no reason a biological male should be competing against biological females. Its not discrimination its BIOLOGY. Pass this bill and protect biologically female atheletes!

02-09-2022

Poppy Malone []

I am a seventh grade female wrestler and this is my opinion. Transgender males should not be able to wrestle with girls because even though they think they are a girl they are biologically male and they have testosterone that makes them stronger than female. I have wrestled a male and I know what it feels like it is tough and its Unfair. Girls wrestle girls for a reason and when biological males come in ruins their chance to be able to wrestle equally with people they know how to wrestle. Lots of girls that are starting to wrestle dont know how to wrestle boys because they only wrestle girls. The sport for girls wrestling just got sanctioned and I dont want it to be ruined by males coming in and ruining the chance for girls to have fun in wrestling and be encouraged by other girls that are like them. Thank you for your time.

02-09-2022

Chelsea Sims []

02-09-2022

Teale Burford []

This is discriminatory and will set a dangerous precedent. This bill should not be advanced! There are nonexclusionary ways to address equity issues arising from situations involving transfemale athletes. Please explore them!

02-09-2022

Sara Coburn []

This is a discriminatory bill and should not have been even suggested. Trans kids are just kids, and some of them might want to play sports. Why are you wasting time picking on kids with an already outsized risk of suicide?This is not worthy or important; its bigotry, plain and simple.

02-09-2022

Melissa Collins []

I support this bill. Girls and women deserve a fair chance to compete. Male puberty makes you taller, with greater muscle and bone mass, larger heart and lung capacity. This translates to roughly a 610% advantage over biological women in sports.

02-09-2022

Samantha Fett []

Support this bill and pass it! It is time to stand up and speak truth that there is a biological difference between a man and woman. Woman and girls' sports need to be protected from a biological male that may decide to compete with woman, that is not fair to the women and girls that work so hard in their sport. Please protect the integrity of sports for females in Iowa.

02-09-2022

Danielle Cusack []

Binary genders isnt backed in science. It is a religious construct. The very basics of our country is religious freedoms. Religious beliefs in binary genders should not be playing roles in government laws, where the US Constitution promises all citizens freedom of religion. Science shows us gender is not binary. Stop pushing religion into schools and laws in Iowa. It violates the core of what makes the United States a free country.

02-09-2022

Melissa Collins []

02-09-2022

Auden Perino [National Women's Law Center]

Attached is written testimony of Elizabeth Tang and Auden Perino, Senior Counsels for Education & Workplace Justice, on behalf of the National Women's Law Center.

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02-09-2022

Sam Ames [The Trevor Project]

Please see attached testimony of The Trevor Project, in strong opposition to HF 2309.Members of the House Committee on Education, The Trevor Project would like to thank you for the opportunity to express our strong opposition to HF 2309, a harmful bill which would effectively ban transgender youth from participating in school sports, denying them the health benefits and valuable life lessons of being part of a team and threatening their mental health. The Trevor Project is the worlds largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. We work to save young lives by providing free and confidential crisis services via a 24/7 phone lifeline, chat, and text. We also operate TrevorSpace, the largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, as well as innovative education, research, and advocacy programs.At The Trevor Project, we hear every day from transgender youth in crisis who want nothing more than to be recognized for who they are. Based on our research and the stories our crisis services team hears firsthand, we know that respecting and affirming a young persons identity is essential to their mental health and wellbeing. The Trevor Projects telephone lifeline and chat and messaging crisis services are routinely contacted by transgender youth expressing the positive impact of sports participation, as well as the heartbreaking effects of exclusion. Denying transgender youth the ability to participate in sports increases the kind of social isolation and stigma that contributes to selfharm and suicide risk. Conversely, our research has shown that participating in sports has positive effects, as LGBTQ young athletes reported nearly 20% lower rates of depressive symptoms compared to nonathletes, and more than a quarter of transgender and nonbinary youth (27%) who participated in sports reported their grades as being mostly As compared to 19% who did not.Additionally, research shows that denying equal access to school activities adds to the discrimination transgender and nonbinary youth experience, exposing them to an increased risk of experiencing depressed mood, seriously considering suicide, and attempting suicide. Research from The Trevor Project published in September 2021 found that most LGBTQ youth dont participate in sports (68%), and many choose not to out of fear of discrimination or bullying for being LGBTQ. Further, Trevors 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that transgender and nonbinary youth who reported their school to be genderaffirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide compared to those who did not. Finally, we hope the legislature will keep in mind the effect of its actions on LGBTQ youth mental health directly; this past year, more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide and 1 in 5 attempted suicide. According to a recent national poll, threequarters of LGBTQ youth are following recent news about issues that impact the transgender community. When asked how the debate about this legislation is affecting them, more than four in five transgender and nonbinary (85%) report it has impacted their mental health negatively, causing them to feel stressed, nervous, or scared. 71% of transgender and nonbinary youth actually feel scared about their future. Recent research has also found that when transgender youth are supported and affirmed, they benefit significantly. For example, one study found that allowing children to present in everyday life as their gender identity rather than their natal sex is associated with developmentally normative levels of depression and anxiety. When transgender youth are supported by their families, there is clear evidence that transgender children have levels of anxiety and depression no different from their nontransgender siblings. Transgender students experience a greater rates of emotional distress not because of their gender identity, but because of persistent discrimination and stigma from society of which this bill and the debating surrounding it are a part.Legislation like HF 2309 is neither necessary nor helpful. We can both celebrate girls athletics and protect transgender youth from discrimination at the same time, ensuring that all young people can access the benefits that sports afford.For these reasons, The Trevor Project asks that you please oppose HF 2309. Thank you.

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