Oklahoma House passes transgender sports ban

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Republican-led Oklahoma House has passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

The House voted 73-19 for the bill Monday, mostly along party lines. The vote sends the bill to the GOP-controlled Senate, which failed to consider a similar bill earlier this session.

Oklahoma is one of more than a dozen states where lawmakers are proposing restrictions this year on athletics or gender-confirming health care for transgender minors. In Kansas, a similar bill heads to Governer Laura Kelly’s desk after it passed both state legislatures. In Missouri, the legislation passed a House committee and will now head to the floor for a vote.

Opponents raised concerns the bill could lead to the NCAA pulling some championship games from Oklahoma. The Women’s College Softball World Series is held in Oklahoma City, generating more than $20 million annually.