Summary
Utah has introduced strict guidelines for transgender girls in high school sports, requiring testosterone levels below 66 ng/dl—far stricter than NCAA or Olympic standards—and proof of ongoing gender-affirming care, which was banned in the state in 2023.
Critics argue the rules effectively bar all transgender girls from participating, contradicting the law’s intent to only ban cases of safety or competitive advantage.
Advocates warn the policy harms trans youth by excluding them from the mental health and social benefits of sports.
So frustrating that I’ve lived long enough that we are passing laws with the specific purpose of excluding one minor group of people.
While these laws are expressly exclusionary, the overall intent is to erode civil rights protections. It’s easier for them to argue against civil rights when they can present a legal justification for it.