'Did not take a biologist to figure it out': Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs 'What is a Woman?' bill
Legislation that strictly defines sex based on reproductive organs that are present at birth has been signed into law in Alabama
Thursday afternoon, Gov. Kay Ivey signed, the 鈥淲hat is a Woman?鈥� bill which wrote definitions of male and female into state law that exclude transgender people from being recognized under their gender identity.
鈥淚f the Good Lord made you a boy, you鈥檙e a boy," said Ivey. And if He made you a girl, you鈥檙e a girl. In Alabama, we believe there are two genders: Male and female. There is nothing complicated or controversial about it. Today, I was proud to officially answer the question 鈥淲hat is a Woman?鈥� with my signature on Senate Bill 79. It did not take a biologist to figure it out. Thank you, Senator April Weaver and Representative Susan DuBose for your work on this.鈥�
The state House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 77-12 for the bill.
The legislation which passed by a vote of 77-12, was approved as more Republican-led states defining men and women. Nine states have similar laws, and several others are pushing to enact more laws this year following President Donald Trump鈥檚 executive order declaring there are two sexes and rejecting the idea that people can transition to another gender.
鈥淚n Alabama, we have common sense. We know what a woman is. We know that God created us man or woman, that our sex is fixed and determined at birth,鈥� said Republican Rep. Susan Dubose, the bill鈥檚 sponsor.
Some Republicans backing the bill said it is needed to protect 鈥渨omen-only鈥� spaces and prevent transgender women from entering those spaces. Trans people said the bills are an attempt to deny their existence or to capitalize on prejudice for political gain.
The bill's passing is a blow to members of Central Alabama's LGBTQ community like Mark Cummings who owns Al鈥檚 on 7th in Birmingham鈥檚 Lakeview district. He said the bill could have unintended consequences.
鈥淭hat means trans men are going to have to use female restrooms," said Cummings. "And, I'm going to tell you something there. There's a lot of trans men that you would never know. And so, listen, we want restrooms to be safe. We just want to pee. Our community just wants to pee.鈥�
Several LGBTQ advocates and supporters in Central Alabama did not want to speak on camera, saying they feel a climate shift not only here in Alabama but in this country.
They fear losing all the gains toward equality they've made over the last decade.
鈥淲e want to live our lives just like regular Birminghamians, Alabamians and Americans because we're all the same, we just love someone different than you do,鈥� Cummings said
This article contains information from the Associated Press.