[US midterm election] “Even if you elect the Democratic Party, the transgender issue will be ‘no’”… Arizona referendum

The state of Arizona, which sided with the Democratic governor in the U.S. midterm elections, has reached a conservative conclusion on the transgender issue.

Politico and The Hill reported on the 4th that in the Arizona referendum held along with the midterm elections on the 3rd (local time), a residents' initiative to restrict the participation of students who have transitioned from male to female from participating in female sports teams and using locker rooms was passed.

Accordingly, schools and sports associations must designate sports teams based on biological sex, and biological males are prohibited from participating in female teams.

Restrooms, shower rooms, locker rooms, and other essential spaces during athletic competitions must be used in accordance with biological gender. If this is violated, the athlete may file a lawsuit against the school.

Transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports has been a frequent topic of attack by the Republican Party against the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party has emphasized the right to self-determination of sexual minorities, so-called LGBTQ, but the Donald Trump administration has countered this by pursuing a policy that bans transgender soldiers from serving in the military.

Considering that the ban on transgender athletes participating in female sports teams has mainly been passed in conservative states that support the Republican Party, it is noteworthy that Arizona, which is close to the swing state, has joined the ban.

In this midterm election, Arizona voters once again elected Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.

In the House of Representatives election, three out of nine seats went to Democratic candidates. The Republican Party holds one seat, and the remaining five seats are yet to be confirmed.