Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 15, which requires all college athletes to compete based on their sex assigned at birth, on June 15. 

The legislation requires all transgender athletes to compete based on their biological sex rather than the gender they identify with. The bill affects “athletic competition,” including all NCAA, club and intramural sports at the college level. One proposed amendment for the bill didn’t include club sports, intramural sports, practices or scrimmages, but the amendment failed.

According to a press release from the Governor’s office, the bill, which takes effect Sept. 1, is intended to prohibit biological males from competing in women’s sports at the college level to “protect the integrity of women’s sports.”

“Today is an important day for female athletes across the state of Texas, including little girls who aspire to one day compete in college sports,” Abbott said. “Sports have inspired many women to cast bold visions and dreams of what they want to achieve. The legacy of women’s sports will be safeguarded for generations to come. Women in Texas can be assured that the integrity of their sports will be protected in our state.”

Merrick Zey, a transgender man, said there’s a chance he won’t compete in intramural sports at all after this bill goes into effect.

“I think that could definitely send me into a much darker place,” architectural engineering senior Zey said. “I worry that, from my spot specifically, if I want to still compete, I might be taking spaces away from girls or women who do actually want to compete in IMs. I’ve noticed on my teams, it is harder to get (women’s) involvement, and I think this could only deter that further.”

The bill states that the University can allow biological females to compete in the mens’ division if no equal team or competition exists for women.

Zey said this sort of bill would’ve influenced his decision to go to the University since he was looking for colleges that received good reviews when it came to support for transgender students.

“I think it’s hard to create that welcoming atmosphere with discriminatory bills like this,” Zey said.

Zey said he worries about the perception a bill like this gives to the trans community.

“I think policies like this definitely do have an influence on people’s perception of trans people,” Zey said. “Like there’s some sort of threat or danger.”

Zey said he played sports all his life, and when he transitioned he took a break from team sports for a bit, but felt the need to come back because of the community that sports provide.

“Seeing something as innocuous as IM sports being attacked and held as this not very safe space for us just kind of piles onto that feeling of not belonging,” Zey said. “And I think it would go a long way having some spaces for us to still just exist and have a well-rounded life.”

The University did not respond to multiple requests for comment.