Vote.Them.All.Out.

If Alabama lawmakers get their way, transgender students would be required … required … to play sports under their “gender assignment at birth” instead of how they live their lives.

The House State Government Committee voted 8-4 for the Gender Is Real Legislative Act, or GIRL Act—isn’t that a cute acronym from a bunch of backwoods asshats—proposed by Republican, because, of course, Representative Chris Pringle. The bill, which awaits input from the full House, would ban K-12 schools from allowing trans athletes to compete under their gender identity, and force them to participate under the gender listed on their original birth certificate.

Nationally, opponents criticized the measure saying it is motivated by fear and discrimination and ignorance towards trans people, but transphobic bigot Chris . Pringle said the bill is designed to ensure a level playing field in girls’ sporting events:

“These young ladies work very hard in order to condition themselves and go out to compete. I want to make sure the person that is competing against them does not have an unfair advantage based on the biological effects of testosterone.”

And then Pringle goes on to say that he knows of no competition problems in the state but says disputes have risen elsewhere so he wants to write bigotry and hate into law.

Carmarion Anderson, Alabama state director of the Human Rights Campaign, said there is no evidence that trans athletes are disrupting athletic competition and says the bill is rooted in discrimination:

“Fairness is not discrimination. Fairness is about allowing a child to live out their truth and be guided also by the love of their parents.”

Here’s the deal, this viciousness comes from the top down; when you have a president saying trans Americans should not be allowed to serve in the military that kind of bigotry trickles down into our schools, and legislatures, where hatred becomes law.

Vote Blue, no matter who; I doubt there’s hope for Alabama because they’re bigotry lives and breeds and breathes in their politics, but we can stop it elsewhere and then one day, someday, maybe Alabama will learn a thing or two.