US State Signs First Anti-Transgender Sports Law Of 2022 Only Days After Donald Trump's Election Pledge

South Dakota has pushed through the first anti-transgender sports bill of 2022 in America only days after former US President Donald Trump’s election pledge.

Idaho, Montana, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia are nine of the US states to have passed anti-trans sports laws since 2019.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, 50, previously enforced the ban on trans women from competing in women’s sports in schools through two executive orders.

South Dakota’s law won’t come into effect until 1st July, but the state could face potential challenges over banning trans women from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity.

Read More:

“This bill has been an important priority for a lot of the people behind me,” Noem said.

She added: “We will ensure that we have fairness and a level playing field for female athletes here in the state of South Dakota, at the K-12 level and at the university level.”

South Dakota’s law, Senate Bill 46, was introduced less than two months before it arrived on Noem’s desk for signing.

According to the bill, trans women will be prevented from playing on teams that match their gender identity both in public schools and post-secondary institutions.

And any student who has suffered “direct or indirect harm” from a trans student playing their sport will be able to take legal action against the school, organisation or educational agency.

Read More:

“We will ban men from participating in women’s sports,” he said.

The former US President added: “So ridiculous!”

“Did you see the man who was in a swimming team that I know very well?” he said.

 “The record held for like 11 years, he beat it by 38 seconds.”