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Utah commission determining which trans athletes can play school sports to take effect

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios A Utah commission that will determine whether transgender girls can compete in school sports matching their gender identity will soon go into effect, Utah Senate leaders announced Friday. Driving the news: The commission was triggered Friday after a Utah judge HB11, that bans transgender athletes from competing in girls' school sports. Context: The ruling was in response to that the families of three transgender student-athletes filed. They say the ban harmed and discriminated against their children. Yes, but: Judge Keith Kelly wrote his ruling would only "allow [trans athletes] to compete only upon the commission’s determination that their being able to compete is fair under all of the circumstances." Details: The majority of the School Activity Eligibility Commission will consist of seven members appointed by Republican state leaders Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilson.Under the law, the commission will include a mental health professional, a statistician, a physician with gender identity healthcare expertise, an athletic association representative, an athletic trainer who serves collegiate-level student-athletes, a high school coach and a sports physiologist. Commissioners will be tasked with evaluating student-athletes' physical characteristics, like their weight and height, to determine if they can compete in gender-specific sports teams. What they're saying: “The commission makes it possible to preserve women’s sports while making evidence-based decisions on a case-by-case basis," Sen. Curt Bramble, the Provo Republican who sponsored the bill, said in a statement. The other side: While the plaintiffs and LGBTQ rights organizations celebrated Kelly's temporary injunction, others have critiqued the commission for being invasive. "While parts of H.B. 11 have been mitigated, the injunction fails to shield transgender girls by allowing a commission to make a determination whether or not a transgender girl may play," the Utah Pride Center said in a statement. Equality Utah leaders Troy Williams and Marina Lowe also said in a statement they were "watching closely as the state pivots to HB11's commission to determine eligibility." What's next: Commissioners will be announced in the coming days. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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