Two proposed bills set for Wyoming’s 2025 legislative session aim to restrict transgender people from participating in female-only sports and accessing female-designated spaces, Gillette News Record reports.
Sponsored by Republican Rep. Martha Lawley of Worland, the bills are designed to ensure what she describes as “fairness and security” for women and girls across the state.
Lawley, who co-sponsored the 2023 Student Eligibility in Sports Act, said it is time for Wyoming to create “uniformity” in transgender policies.
“Now, we can lead again, ensuring our daughters and granddaughters can pursue their dreams with the same sense of fairness and security,” she wrote in an op-ed.
The first bill seeks to amend the existing Student Eligibility in Sports Act, which bars transgender girls from participating in female sports from grades seven through 12. Lawley’s amendment would extend the ban to all grade levels and collegiate sports, impacting institutions like the University of Wyoming and community colleges. The amendment also prohibits Wyoming teams from competing against out-of-state teams with transgender players, a response to an incident involving the University of Wyoming volleyball team’s decision to forgo a match against San Jose State University.
Lawley emphasized that the bill is not meant to exclude transgender students but to preserve opportunities for women under Title IX.
“There are many options to accommodate transgender students,” she said.
The second bill, called the Protecting Women’s Privacy in Public Spaces Act, would prohibit transgender individuals from accessing female-designated spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and correctional facilities. Lawley suggests the bill balances the need for privacy with providing transgender students separate facilities.
“I believe we can, in Wyoming, balance these different interests,” she said.
The bills have drawn mixed reactions. Wyoming Equality Executive Director Sara Burlingame criticized the measures, arguing they could harm an already vulnerable population.
“Trans kids are just trying to survive high school,” Burlingame said.
She noted that transgender youth face disproportionately high rates of abuse and discrimination. She warned the legislation could prompt families with transgender children to leave the state.
Gov. Mark Gordon previously expressed concerns about similar legislation, allowing the 2023 sports bill to become law without his signature, calling it “overly draconian” and potentially harmful.
If passed, the bills would likely add to Wyoming’s evolving policy landscape regarding transgender rights. Lawley maintains that her proposals aim to protect women’s opportunities while creating alternative paths for transgender students, but opponents see them as discriminatory.
