Fairness Campaign Condemns Anti-Trans Sports Ban

Senate Bill 83 Passes KY House 70-23

(FRANKFORT, Ky. - March 17, 2022) The Fairness Campaign condemns the Kentucky House passage of anti-transgender Senate Bill 83, which seeks to ban transgender girls from playing on sports teams in Kentucky schools that match their gender identities from sixth grade through college.

Despite moving testimony from Kentucky families who would be impacted by the bill and an open letter of opposition from more than 160 major U.S. employers, including Amazon, Brown-Forman Corporation, and PepsiCo, the Kentucky House approved the measure with a vote of 70-23. It now moves back to the Kentucky Senate for a concurrence vote, then to Governor Andy Beshear's desk.

"Transgender kids want the same things all children do-to play with their friends, get a good education and pursue their passions, including sports. Like all kids, they deserve the opportunity to participate on sports teams that help them stay active, bring them joy and fulfillment, and teach them about teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship," said Chris Hartman, Executive Director of the Fairness Campaign in Kentucky. "Lawmakers should stop meddling in the lives of innocent kids trying to play with friends on their schools' sports teams and focus on more pressing issues that pose legitimate threats in Kentucky."

Founded in 1991, the Fairness Campaign is Kentucky's broad-based community effort dedicated to equal rights for LGBTQ people. Its primary goal is comprehensive civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to dismantle systemic racism.