Friday, the Human Rights Campaign announced it has purchased airtime for an ad denouncing the actions of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, among others, for passing anti-transgender legislation.
The ad will air during the University of Arkansas-Oral Roberts University March Madness Sweet 16 game this weekend.
Thursday, Gov. Hutchinson signed Senate Bill 354, an anti-transgender bill that bans transgender women and girls from participating in sports (including extracurricular and school sports at the elementary, middle, high school and collegiate level) consistent with their gender identity.
Watch the ad here
The ad has been purchased to air locally across Arkansas (Little Rock and Ft. Smith markets) as hundreds of thousands of Arkansans watch the University of Arkansas and underdog Oral Roberts University duke it out for a spot in the Elite 8 of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament.
Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said, “Hutchinson’s shameful decision to attack transgender children to score a few political points is absolutely abhorrent, and rooted in nothing but his animus towards LGBTQ people. Despite numerous opportunities, not once were they able to name a single transgender athlete in the state of Arkansas. These bills are in search of a problem that does not exist and the Human Rights Campaign will be here to make sure Governor Hutchinson and any elected officials pushing for these discriminatory laws are held accountable.”
Arkansas will be playing in its first NCAA Sweet 16 since 1996 when the 10th-ranked and 3rd-seeded Razorbacks face 15th-seeded Oral Roberts on Saturday (Mar. 27) in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Game time is set for 7:25 pm (ET) / 6:25 pm (CT) and the contest will be televised on TBS.
“The president’s belief is that trans rights are human rights” — Jen Psaki pic.twitter.com/8VOMcN4XoR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 9, 2021
The Arkansas law promulgates that transgender girls are men based on biology and have an inherent competitive advantage and should be excluded from girl’s sports.
The Supreme court ruled last year that Trans and gay people are protected from discrimination in the workplace by the basis of sex under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
President Biden issued an executive order directing the Education Department and the Attorney General to identify states and public institutions that violate Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by June 16, 2021. President Biden has put those entities on notice that they risk defunding if they refuse to comply with the law.
The post HRC places TV ad to air during Arkansas’ sweet 16 playoff game Saturday appeared first on Planet Trans.
