By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – In two weeks, Arizona voters will decide whether transgender athletes, students, and employees will face further restrictions through Proposition 318.
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Arizona is one of 29 states with laws, regulations, or interscholastic association rules that limit participation on female school sports teams to students of the female sex.
Prop 318 would add a restriction limiting participation on male school sports teams to students of the male sex.
The measure defines sex as the biological status of male or female as recorded at birth on a person’s original birth certificate. It would make both restrictions statewide for all Arizona schools and athletic associations, not just public schools.
Kim Miller, CEO and president of America’s Women of Action, one of the leading groups supporting Prop 318, said the restrictions need to be statewide.
“This is an issue of fairness. It’s not anything against those people,” Miller said.
Miller said differences remain even after cross-sex hormone therapy.
“There are still inherent differences in your DNA that can never be changed. Your muscle mass, your lung capacity, your heart size,” Miller said.
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Those opposing the ballot measure claim current Arizona state law is enough.
“It’s really an effort to push trans people out of public life,” said Darrell Hill, with the ACLU of Arizona.
Prop 318, if passed, would also prohibit schools and athletic associations from allowing a student, athlete, or employee to use a restroom, locker room, shower room, or other private space not designated for their sex.
Hill said this ostracizes an already small percentage of Arizonans.
“It not just applies to athletes but it can also apply to spectators who go and see sporting events, restricting their ability to use bathrooms,” Hill said.
Miller argues the additional restrictions are necessary.
“There’s no way to protect women if you allow biological men to come into their locker rooms. There should be a safe space,” Miller said.
Hill said the opposition believes the measure amounts to government overreach.
“They’re focusing on this really kind of defenseless, really small minority of kids to kind of continue to use as a punching bag,” Hill said.
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