Arizona legislators heard emotional testimony from Lisa Bivens, whose daughter’s birth certificate became a battleground for understanding sex and gender. Bivens shared her story to caution lawmakers against Senate Bill 1628, which seeks to redefine sex in state law, potentially affecting children like her daughter.
The bill aims to remove references to gender in state law and replace them with “sex,” defined strictly as male or female based on reproductive characteristics. Bivens stressed the complexity of determining sex in cases like her daughter’s, where medical issues blur traditional categories. She warned that the bill would interfere with parents’ and doctors’ decision-making, exacerbating already challenging situations.
However, some lawmakers dismissed concerns about intersex individuals and endorsed the bill’s passage. They argued that only two sets of sex chromosomes exist, disregarding rare genetic variations.
Supporters portrayed SB1628 as safeguarding women’s rights and combating leftist ideologies in schools. They argued for clear definitions of biological sex to prevent discrimination against cisgender girls.
Critics, including LGBTQ advocacy groups, condemned the bill as an attempt to erase transgender and nonbinary people. They highlighted the potential for discrimination in public spaces and the erasure of gender identity from official documents, which could expose transgender individuals to harm.
The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee with a 6-3 vote along party lines, with only Republicans in favor. It now moves to the full House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority. However, Governor Katie Hobbs, a staunch opponent of anti-LGBTQ legislation, is likely to veto it if it reaches her desk.