The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness after adding a transgender ban amendment into the legislation.
The amendment, which would ban transgender women from competing in women's sports, was added by Rep. Jena Powell on Thursday.
As Rep. Powell read the amendment, several members pounded on their desks.
After a discussion, the amended bill passed with a 57-36 vote.
The bill will now go back to the Senate for a vote with the amendment before it would head to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine. The original bill passed the Senate on June 16.
Under the original bill, colleges and universities would be banned from preventing student-athletes the chance to participate in sports based on whether or not they receive compensation.
10TV asked the bill's sponsor, Senator Niraj Antani, about the amendment and we were sent the following statement:
“I continue to strongly pursue legislation to ensure student athletes receive in law their rights to their own name, image, and likeness by the July 1, 2021 deadline,” Antani said. “I am optimistic in my prospects and I will continue to work hard to get this done for our student athletes.”
Statement from Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David:
“The House’s eagerness to pass discriminatory legislation targeting transgender young people is shameful, particularly while Ohio has left a host of important issues unaddressed while the state recovers economically from a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. To make matters worse, anti-transgender legislation has historically created negative economic and legal consequences for states that dare to pass legislation. Ohio cannot afford the drain in talent or loss of business that could result from the passage of this legislation. Transgender kids are just kids and they deserve the opportunity to play sports and gain the important lessons that stem from athletic participation. By moving this bill forward without evidence of a problem, the Ohio House is revealing their backwards priorities and doing so on the backs of a vulnerable group of young people who are simply asking for the same rights as any other kid.”
Statement from Ohio State University:
"Ohio State supports a clean name, image and likeness bill, like the bill passed by the Ohio Senate, which will support all student-athletes across Ohio."
Statement from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine:
"This issue is best addressed outside of government, through individual sports leagues and athletic associations, including the Ohio High School Athletic Association, who can tailor policies to meet the needs of their member athletes and member institutions."