Alabama Senate passes “What is a Woman” bill

On Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed a bill that aims to define “male” and “female” in state law, a measure Governor Kay Ivey strongly supports and looks forward to signing into law. 

The bill, introduced by Senator April Weaver, R-Brierfield, passed with a 26-5 vote. The six dissenting votes were from Democratic senators, and Sen. Billy Beasley was the only Democratic senator to vote for the bill.

The bill’s central aim is to establish legal definitions of “male” and “female” based on biological sex. Specifically, it defines a female as someone whose reproductive system produces ova and a male as someone whose reproductive system produces sperm. 

Weaver has suggested that the bill is not controversial, emphasizing that it’s a “simple bill” and the importance of these definitions for state agencies.

“Sex is based on fundamental truths that are as old as the book of Genesis and as reliable as the sun in the sky,” Weaver said. “Men are born men, and women are born women—one can never become the other.”

Although Weaver’s bill originally included provisions that would restrict access to restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters based on biological sex in public schools, colleges, jails, and other facilities, these provisions were removed in committee. 

The revised version of the bill now solely addresses definitions and stipulates that the state or any of its subdivisions can establish separate spaces for males and females when biology, privacy, safety or fairness is at stake. Weaver defended the bill as a necessary step to ensure clarity in the state’s approach to gender-related issues.

“Sex definitions are rooted in proven fact and indisputable biology rather than the dangerous cultural war being waged on Alabama values,” Weaver said. “This bill injects a strong dose of common sense into the woke agenda that has become increasingly absurd with the passage of time.”

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, spoke about how even the revised version of this bill could have detrimental effects on residents.

“We have to be careful how we, in our idea of trying to accomplish things, of whether or not we discriminate against people or not. I, by no means, can stand up here can set a deaf ear to discrimination as I said earlier, having lived it and experienced it myself,” said Smitherman.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth was pleased to see the bill pass the Senate and further affirm the “indisputable biological truth.”

“I commend Sen. April Weaver for injecting a strong dose of common sense into what has become an increasingly absurd social debate about who is considered a man and who is considered a woman,” said Ainsworth.”…If this bill is enacted, state agencies, schools, and other entities across Alabama will have clear statutory definitions they can use on forms and applications that ask individuals to list their sex.”

The bill now moves to the House, where a similar measure was passed last year, known as the “What is a Woman Act,” sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover.