TUPELO, Miss. —The American Family Association (AFA, afa.net) applauds Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for signing a bill into law that requires students to participate on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex, as determined by the birth certificate issued at or near the time they were born.

Abbott signed Texas House Bill 25 into law last Monday, which bans students from participating in sports leagues for the opposite sex. The law will take effect on January 18, 2022.

The legislation stated, “… An interscholastic athletic team sponsored or authorized by a school district or open-enrollment charter school may not allow a student to compete in an interscholastic athletic competition sponsored or authorized by the district or school that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student’s biological sex.” To date, approximately two dozen states have passed laws or taken other action that would ban biological males from competing in women’s athletics.

“In the midst of the gender madness movement, it is encouraging for Christians––and anyone else who understands basic biology––to see states doing what is right for women and girls,” said Ed Vitagliano, Executive Vice President of American Family Association.

“No one should ever want to see gender-confused individuals mocked, persecuted, or physically harmed. In fact, Christians should be the first ones to demonstrate compassion for those struggling so desperately to make sense of the world. But it is equally wrong to demand that everyone else accept their confusion as fact. Kudos to the Texas legislature and Gov. Abbott in taking a stand for reality.”

Earlier this year, a Gallup poll conducted during May 3-18 and released on May 26, assessed 1,016 American adults’ views about transgender-related issues.

Among the poll’s findings:

62% of Americans expressed support for requiring trans-identified athletes to play on the team that matches their biological sex. Support was highest among Republicans (86%), self-described conservatives (85%), and males (72%).

34% of Americans believed that trans-identified athletes should be allowed to play on sports teams that correspond to their gender identity. Support was highest among self-described liberals (63%), Democrats (55%), women (43%), and college graduates (40%).

Last October, American Family Studios (AFS), the film division of American Family Association, released In His Image, a powerful documentary that challenges the growing sexual and gender anarchy in America today. The film answers that confusion with biblical truth and compassion.

‘In His Image’, which features M.D. Perkins, AFS director Austin Brooks, director Kendra White, and onscreen host Dr. Michael Brown, documents the science and proclaims the truth with courage and compassion. The film doesn’t shy away from the tough questions: “What if someone genuinely feels trapped in the wrong body?” “Did God make me this way?” “Can you be gay and be a Christian?” and “Is change even possible?”

For more information about ‘In His Image,’ visit inhisimagemovie.com. To purchase the DVD set visit the AFA Resource Center.

For over 40 years, AFA has operated within the mission to inform, equip and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission.  Founded in 1977, AFA has long been on the front lines of America’s culture war. Today, AFA is one of the largest and most effective pro-family organizations in the country, with nearly a million online supporters and approximately 160,000 subscribers to the AFA Journal, the ministry’s monthly magazine.  Find AFA Action Alerts here.  In addition, AFA owns and operates nearly 180 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner. 

View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.       

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To interview American Family Association Executive Vice President Ed Vitagliano, or another AFA spokesperson, contact [email protected], Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.  