Resolution 2021-31685 RESOLUTION NO., 2021-31685
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY
OPPOSING AND CONDEMNING SENATE BILL 2012 AND
HOUSE BILL 1475, BOTH OF WHICH SEEK TO PROHIBIT
TRANSGENDER YOUTH FROM COMPETING IN STUDENT
ATHLETICS; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE.
WHEREAS, almost a dozen transgender girls have played on girls'sports teams in Florida
—without controversy—since inclusive policies were passed in 2013; and
WHEREAS, now, Senate Bill ("SB") 2012 and House Bill 1475 have been filed for
consideration during the 2021 Legislative Session, seeking to block transgender girls from playing
on school sports teams that align with their gender identity; and
WHEREAS, SB 2012 and HB 1475 are similar to legislation passed in Idaho, which was
quickly challenged in federal court and is now on hold after a judge ruled the state cannot ban
transgender students from sports teams; and
WHEREAS, in an attempt to justify these discriminatory bills, the sponsors of SB 2012
and HB 1475 argue that what they've misleadingly named the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act"
is needed to "protect" girls who could be denied athletic opportunities if they had to compete
against transgender girls who were assigned male at birth; and
WHEREAS, however, the sponsors of these bills failed to provide any scientific data
justifying banning trans girls from participating in women sports, and even admitted that
transgender girls competing on girls' teams has not caused any problems to date, laying bare the
reality that these are attacks on trans youth are fueled by discrimination and not supported by
fact; and
WHEREAS, SB 2012 and HB 1475, as well as dozens of similar bills introduced in over
thirty (30) states across the country are predicated on the false premise that trans women are
simply men pretending to be women, which is rooted in fundamental misunderstanding of who
transgender people are, how and when they transition, and how that impacts their biology; and
WHEREAS, collegiate and professional sports organizations have had trans-inclusive
policies for years without incident, and there is no reason for a ban on transgend'er participation
in sports; and
WHEREAS, on April 12, 2021, the National Collegiate Athletics Association ("NCAA"),
which regulates college athletics in the U.S., backed transgender athletes, saying it will not hold
championship events in locations that aren't"free of discrimination"; and
WHEREAS, the NCAA Board of Governors announced that it "firmly and unequivocally
supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports."; and
WHEREAS, nearly 550 college athletes have stood.up to anti-transgender legislation by
demanding the NCAA pull championships from states with anti-trans sports legislation; and
WHEREAS, according to lawmakers, an NCAA boycott could cost Florida some 50
tournaments and an estimated $75 million over the next five years; and
WHEREAS, earlier in April 2021, more than 55 major U.S. corporations spoke out to
oppose anti-transgender legislation being proposed in states across the country, including
companies like Facebook, Pfizer, Altria, Peloton, Dell, Amazon, American Airlines, Apple, AT&T,
AirBnB, Google, Hilton, IBM, IKEA, Microsoft, Nike, Paypal, Uber, and Verizon; and
WHEREAS, these bills do not come from concerns constituents but from anti-LGBTQ
organizations like the Heritage Foundation,Alliance Defending Freedom (designated by Southern
Poverty Law Center as a hate group), and Eagle Forum among others — the same forces that
drove previous anti-equality fights by pushing copycat bills across state houses; and
WHEREAS, these broadly unpopular bills are not only damaging to trans youth but are
also anti-science and dismiss the medical expertise of a wide range of child welfare advocates;
and
WHEREAS, the nation's leading child health and welfare groups representing more than
7 million youth-serving professionals and more than 1000 child welfare organizations released an
open letter calling for lawmakers in states across the country to oppose dozens of bills such as
SB 2012 and HB 1475 that target LGBTQ people, and transgender children in particular; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach is committed to staying at the forefront of human.
rights advocacy and on the right side of history; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission vehemently oppose, and condemn
SB 2012 and HB 1475 and any other similar legislation that seeks to block transgender youth
from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby strongly oppose and condemn Senate Bill 2012 and House Bill 1475, both of-
which seek to prohibit transgender youth from competing in student athletics; and direct the City
Clerk to transmit a copy of this.Resolution to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives,
and the President of the Florida Senate.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this eV day of /7,r/Y , 2021.
Attest: A;:zz...../.................
Dan Gelber, Mayor
731
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Rafael E. Granado, Ci y Clerk APPROVED AS TO
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ti''. & FOR EXECUTION
(Sponsored by Mayor Dan Gelber) -
ICORPOfTED
,,y ik, 6` City Attorney `� Date
Resolutions -C7 AA
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael Paz,Acting City Attorney
DATE: April 29, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING AND CONDEMNING
SENATE BILL 2012 AND HOUSE BILL 1475, BOTH OF WHICH SEEK TO
PROHIBIT TRANSGENDER YOUTH FROM COMPETING IN STUDENT
ATHLETICS; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A COPY OF
THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SPEAKER OF THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES,AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE.
ANALYSIS
The attached Resolution was prepared at the request of Mayor Dan Gelber, the sponsor of this
item,for consideration at the April 21, 2021 City Commission meeting.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.Q.
to Know" item.pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Mayor Dan Gelber and Co-sponsored by Commissioners Steinberg and Richardson
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 363 of 538