MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Wednesday, Alabama legislators granted final approval to a bill that establishes clear definitions of male and female in state law, effectively excluding transgender individuals from recognition according to their gender identity.
The Alabama House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 77-12, defining sex based solely on the reproductive organs that an individual is born with. This legislation is now set to be reviewed by Governor Kay Ivey, who has declared her intention to sign it into law, expressing her belief that it embodies “common sense” in a statement shared on the social platform X following the bill’s passage.
Similar regulatory measures are gaining traction in numerous Republican-led states, as Alabama joins the ranks of nine other states that have enacted comparable laws. Several other states are also advocating for similar legislation this year, particularly in light of a prior executive order from President Donald Trump that maintained the existence of only two sexes, dismissing the notion of gender transition.
According to Republican Representative Susan Dubose, the sponsor of the bill, the intention behind this legislation reflects a belief in “common sense” values. Dubose noted, “We know what a woman is. We know that God created us man or woman, and that our sex is fixed and determined at birth.”
Supporters of the bill have argued that it is essential for the protection of “women-only” spaces, seeking to prevent transgender women from accessing these areas. However, advocates for trans rights have contended that such legislation is a denial of their existence and a strategy to exploit existing prejudices for political gain.
Zephyr Scalzetti, a transgender man, articulated concerns regarding the far-reaching implications of the bill. He remarked that its consequences would extend beyond issues of bathroom access, emphasizing that it fundamentally affects how transgender individuals are perceived legally. “The goal is not to protect women. The goal is to eradicate trans people,” Scalzetti stated.
The legislative process surrounding the bill involved limited debate time, as Republicans placed it on a calendar that restricted discussion to only 10 minutes—an allocation typically reserved for non-controversial matters.
Democratic Representative Barbara Drummond criticized this approach, questioning whether the individuals impacted by the bill deserved only 10 minutes of debate and underscoring the importance of thoughtful discussions on legislation that significantly influences people’s lives. In response, House Rules Chairman Joe Lovvorn assured that the matter had been debated throughout the last two years in the Alabama Statehouse.