INDIANAPOLIS – A preliminary injunction by a federal judge is blocking a house bill preventing transgender girls in Indiana from participating on school girls’ sports teams.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday which required that a 10-year-old transgender girl at the center of the ban be allowed to rejoin her school’s all-girls softball team while litigation continues.

Ken Falk, legal director at the ACLU of Indiana, said, “When misinformation about biology and gender is used to bar transgender girls from school sports it amounts to the same form of sex discrimination that has long been prohibited under Title IX, a law that protects all students – including trans people – on the basis of sex.”

On February 16 the Senate Education and Career Development Committee passed House Bill 1041, with an 8-3 vote, keeping transgender girls in Indiana from participating on school girls’ sports teams.

“Female athletes deserve fair competition and an even playing field. This bill ensures just that, a fair and equal opportunity to compete for Hoosiers now and in the future,” said Rep. Michelle Davis (R-District 58), who wrote the bill.

Falk encourages any students in Indiana being denied the right to join a school sports team to due to their transgender status contact the ACLU of Indiana.