Idaho Governor Brad Little. (Photo: Wikipedia)
California Bans State-Funded Travel To Idaho Over New Transgender Laws
California invokes AB 1887, NCAA may follow with other states
By Evan Symon, June 24, 2020 2:21 am
“I do not believe that protecting the rights of women and girls to participate in athletics or recording objective facts constitute discrimination.” Idaho Governor Brad Little
On Monday, California banned all state-paid travel to Idaho following the state’s passage of two bills that discriminate against transgender individuals.
The 12th state with a state-funded travel ban in California
The two bills, Idaho House Bill 500 and House Bill 509, respectively ban transgender women who are biologically men, and girls who are biologically boys, from taking part in female schools and colleges and also prohibit people from changing their gender on their birth certificates.
After a prolonged battle in federal court and the reluctance of Idaho Governor Brad Little in overturning the bills, Idaho subsequently joined 11 other states on California’s “no state-paid travel” list based on transgender discrimination. The ban will include not only state agencies, departments, and other governmental travel, but also state university and college travel, including for NCAA athletics.
The bans have been enacted because of Assembly Bill 1887, a 2016 bill sponsored by Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), that was signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown later that year. AB 1887 forbids all state-paid travel to states that have laws that discriminate ‘based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression’. While there are health and safety travel exceptions, they have otherwise withstood the test of the last several years, including a lawsuit by Texas earlier this year and states such as Oklahoma banning travel to California in turn.
Before Idaho, the last state to have been banned by California was Iowa in September of last year.
“Where states legislate discrimination, California unambiguously speaks out,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday. “The State of Idaho has taken drastic steps to undermine the rights of the transgender community, preventing people from playing sports in school or having documentation that reflects their identity. Let’s not beat around the bush: These laws are plain and simple discrimination. That’s why Idaho joins the list of AB 1887 discriminating states.”
Idaho fired back on Tuesday, with Governor Brad Little decrying the California decision while also defending Idaho’s new laws.
“I do not believe that protecting the rights of women and girls to participate in athletics or recording objective facts constitute discrimination,” said Governor Little in a statement.
NCAA eyes following California’s lead
Despite Idaho’s stance, as well as some support coming from U.S. Attorney General William Barr, many other states and the NCAA are now considering Idaho bans of their own. Idaho has much to lose with such bans, especially the the threat for the NCAA. Boise State is set to host several games in the 2021 NCAA men’s March Madness tournament, and the loss could further set back collegiate losses stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
Many Idaho lawmakers are now bracing for the sting in lost business due to the California ban, with some lawmakers in Idaho charging that the transgender bills took the places of other needed bills to help Idaho recover from the coronavirus and the economic downturn.
“Idaho made a major mistake here,” said western states transgender watchdog Paris Thomas. “Regardless of your view of the bills, the lost business, support, and the now-gone transgender support in Idaho hurts the state when it really needed a pick-me-up. And this comes almost immediately after the LGBT protections were ruled on in the Supreme Court.
As for the bills, denying people basic things like that when they switch over, it’s wrong. It’s not to prevent athletes from unfairly competing or anything. They just nailed it down for little reason.”
Others have argued for more of a state-view.
“It is Idaho’s decision, and like the bill stated, it was done out of fairness,” said Idaho legal advisor Charles Young. “California is trying to change other states minds by banning travel, and that’s just wrong. You’re hurting our state financially just because you don’t like a law we passed? Because you think it’s discriminatory to exclude those who weren’t born women from women’s sports? It seems callous for such a ‘caring’ state.”
The travel ban begins July 1st. The decision by the NCAA and other states on an Idaho ban will be announced soon.
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In the long run good people of Idaho will be better off with California government employees polluting their streets and businesses.
I love how intolerant the “tolerant” left is. Another example of not respecting other viewpoints. It is embarrassing that California legislators are so arrogant in their political thought. Of course they know better.
Idaho may lose some travel business but they are gaining new tax dollars from former Former Californians who have had enough of this madness are bringing their tax dollars to be spent in Idaho.
With a little luck the California government will ban travel to all the states. The last thing this country needs is California polluting the rest of the country with their marxist idiocy.
Yes CW, , but unfortunately the seeds were planted decades ago. We can thank Cal Berkeley and Hollywood for that. California elite polluted young minds years ago. The Universities are corrupt with neo marxist thought.
Idaho should be exuberant with the travel ban.
California is the bulky state. They are run by communist dictator and are in complete ruin! I should know I live here, the struggle is real! Hate us their new motto
Hurray for Idaho, our future home!
Not only did they do the right thing but now they they will have fewer Kalifornians to deal with!
What a bunch of clueless jackasses. Instead of focusing on attracting people to visit California for the much desperately needed revenue, they’re concern is punishing other states for not welcoming drag queens with open arms.
Democrats just love being mean fascists.
Thank you Idaho, finally, somebody put the end into this madness. Not that long time ago a female ended in a hospital after a kickboxing round with a man who chose to identify himself as female. The LGBT ideology wants all the money that students get for a scholarship based on sports achievements. Even lesbians are against it because there is no win for women, there is no sport discipline left for women now.