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Sports

Indiana General Assembly overrides veto to enable trans sports ban

The Indiana General Assembly voted Tuesday to override a veto of a bill that would ban transgender girls from playing on a girls sport or team in K-12 schools.The House voted 67-28 to override the veto, with three Republicans voting against the override. The Senate voted 32-15 to override the veto.AdvertisementGov. Eric Holcomb vetoed the bill in March, saying it did not provide a consistent policy for what he called “fairness in K-12 sports.” He also pointed to the IHSAA’s policy on transgender athletes.Republican sponsors of the bill maintained Tuesday it is needed to protect the integrity of female sports and opportunities for girls to gain college athletic scholarship but could not point out any instances in the state of transgender athletes outperforming other girls.AdvertisementAhead of the vote, dozens of young people and supporters gathered outside the statehouse to play games to show legislators that kids want to play, organizers said.A group plays games outside the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 prior to the vote to override Governor Holcomb’s veto on a transgender sports bill. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)For one game, called switch, there were four green cones set up in a square, with a purple cone on the middle and another purple cone between two of the green cones. Six people play — one person standing at each cone — and the person in the middle yells out “switch,” after which everyone runs and tries to be the only person on a green cone. If two people run to the same green cone, they play rock, paper, scissors to decide who stays in the game.Traneisha English, program director of Play Works, said the organization focuses on social, emotional and physical benefits of play for all children. The organization understands “the power of inclusive play,” English said.Games like switch, English said, teach conflict resolution in a low stakes game. But, English said the vote to ban transgender girls from playing on a girls team or sport is high stakes.If she had a chance to talk with a legislator ahead of the vote, English said she’d listen, explain to them what inclusive play is and tell them about the negative impacts the bill will have on transgender youth.“I would ask them, is that what they really want? And I would hope their answer is no,” English said. “We are worried about the future of inclusive play.”Members of the Indiana House of Representatives meet at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 to vote to overturn the governor’s veto of a bill that would ban trans children playing school sports in Indiana. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)Nathaniel Clawson, of Bloomington, who has testified against the bill since it was first proposed in the legislature, said his transgender daughter woke up in a foul mood Tuesday.In an effort to comfort her, he told her they plan on having a fun morning playing sports outside with other kids. His daughter, who is 9 years old, said she didn’t see it that way.Advertisement“‘People are trying to take away my rights,’” Clawson said his daughter told him.His daughter loves to play volleyball, soccer and roller derby, and all her friends know her as a girl. When she’s a little older, she will start taking hormone blockers and won’t go through male puberty.“If … she were to play on the boys team, that’s unsafe for her. She’s not going to develop that muscle mass that’s part of testosterone puberty,” Clawson said.The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the law Tuesday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Similar laws have already been blocked or temporarily enjoined in other states.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of A.M., a 10-year-old girl who plays on her school’s all-girls softball team. The new law, which would go into effect July 1, 2022, would deny A.M. the right to rejoin her team because she is a transgender girl.State senator J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, implores his fellow senators to uphold the governor’s veto of a trans student school sports bill at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)“We’re all in this fight together, and we’re going to stay in this fight together,” said Kit Malone, advocacy strategist for ACLU Indiana, during a “let kids play” rally ahead of the vote.Advertisement“Today we’re here to let those lawmakers know, we don’t want them to override that veto. We don’t want laws in this state that discriminate against one particular group of people, in this case transgender girls,” Malone said.Zoe O’Haillan-Berne, director of engagement for Indiana Youth Group, said the bill “isn’t about the safety of cis gender youth” but “it is about the comfort of cis gender adults.”“True Hoosier hospitality means everyone is welcomed, especially every child,” O’Haillin-Berne said. “Trans is beautiful. Trans rights are human rights. At IYG, you’re welcome to play any day.”During the House session, the Representatives weren’t allowed to address the bill under House rules.After the House vote was announced as passing, the room was silent.Kit Malone of the Indiana American Civil Liberties Union speaks during a rally to uphold the governor’s veto of a trans-athlete school sports bill at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)During the Senate session, senators were able to address the bill. Senator Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, called the bill blatantly discriminatory.Advertisement“Throwing children under the bus to gain support from voters is not what we’re here to do,” Taylor said. “With this legislation, you’re telling women they are weak.”Senator J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, listed other Republican governors who vetoed similar bills and reiterated the opposing testimony that was heard when the bill was advancing through the legislature.“This isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue, but with sustaining the veto today, it’s a life saving issue,” Ford said.State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, speaks in the halls of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)After the vote, Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, said he wasn’t surprised by the vote because Democrats have a super minority in the legislature.“(Republicans) are not even willing to listen to their own governor after he decided to say ‘Hey, let the kids play,’” Andrade said.The bill will have negative impacts on the mental and emotional health of transgender youth, during a time that young adults are struggling with mental health issues, he said.AdvertisementAndrade said the legislature could’ve discussed more important issues facing Hoosiers, like suspending the state gas taxes.“In the scheme of things, we have bigger problems in our state to address. But yet we decide to address something that’s not relevant,” Andrade said.State Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, speaks in the halls of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune) (Michael Gard / Post-Tribune)Senator Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said he voted in favor of the override because it ensures “fair and competitive” women’s sports.“I think it’s absolutely about integrity in women’s sports. I think it will be fair competition,” Niemeyer said.Niemeyer said he doesn’t see there being a negative impact on transgender youth with the passage of the bill.“It’s not really a problem in Indiana,” Niemeyer said. “We’re trying to head that off because there’s a possibility it will be.”AdvertisementSenator Rodney Pol Jr., D-Ogden Dunes, said he was disappointed with the vote because “it’s the antithesis of Hoosier hospitality.”“I do have faith that the courts will restore the status of their ability to play sports. This goes against this idea that we’re small government,” Pol said.After the vote, Malone said her first thought is about the transgender youth “who have seen the degree to which our legislature will go to prioritize doing them harm.”“This is not the end of the road. Every civil rights battle has had its downsides and it’s ups. In the rear view mirror, all of the people here who are arraying their forces against this small and vulnerable group of harmless people are going to look very bad to history,” Malone said.

Sports

Zach LaVine has surgery on his left knee as the Chicago Bulls guard prepares to enter free agency

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday after playing through discomfort and swelling for most of the 2021-22 season.LaVine’s surgery took place at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he lives during the offseason, and he’s expected to make a full recovery, the Bulls said in a statement.AdvertisementThe left knee was already a concern for LaVine, who tore his ACL in 2017. He spent the week before this season’s All-Star break in Los Angeles to receive cortisone and platelet-rich plasma injections, missing two games.LaVine continued to miss games throughout the final third of the regular season, struggling with pain and discomfort during games and on the bench.AdvertisementDespite injuries to his knee and thumb and his second and third bouts with COVID-19, LaVine averaged 24.4 points and 4.5 assists this season and earned a second straight All-Star selection.[ [Don’t miss] What will happen in free agency? Who will play in Summer League? What to watch for this Bulls offseason. ]He enters his first summer as an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. LaVine invited speculation about his next step when he declined to commit to re-signing with the Bulls during his exit interview in April.More recently he told TMZ Sports he has “always been a big fan of the Lakers” after eating dinner in Los Angeles on Monday night.“I’ve been here for the past five years. I have to do this as a business decision, as a man, just to not be viewing it one way,” LaVine said during his exit interview. “It’s unrestricted free agency. For my family, for me, I have to go and look at this as a decision where I have to be open-eyed. I have to make my list and talk to everybody.”

Sports

Deshaun Watson accuser says she felt ‘scared’ and threatened after giving the QB a massage

CLEVELAND — One of the women accusing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct while she gave him a massage felt “scared” and threatened by a comment he made after a therapy session.Appearing on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” Ashley Solis — who is among 22 women who have sued Watson over allegations he behaved inappropriately with them — provided graphic details of an encounter with the three-time Pro Bowler.AdvertisementShe also said at the end of a massage, Watson told her, “I know you have a career to protect,” and, “I know you don’t want anyone messing with it just like I don’t want anyone messing with mine.”Reporter Soledad O’Brien asked Solis why Watson’s message frightened her.Advertisement“Because that sounded like a threat to me,” she said.During the interview airing Tuesday night, Solis and another massage therapist, Kyla Hayes, provide details of their meetings with Watson, who is facing civil lawsuits by the 22 women alleging various sexual acts during massages he received while playing for the Houston Texans.Watson has denied any wrongdoing and has maintained any sex with the women was consensual. Two grand juries in Texas have declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints filed by 10 women.Solis and Hayes said they feel offended by the five-year, $230 million contract Watson received in March from the Browns. Watson’s deal is both the richest in NFL history and fully guaranteed.Ashley Solis, the first woman to file sexual assault claims against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, gives a statement during a news conference on April 6, 2021, in Houston. Solis and fellow massage therapist Kyla Hayes appear on an episode of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” airing Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Yi-Chin Lee/AP)“It’s just like a big screw you,” Solis said. “That’s what it feels like. That we don’t care. He can run and throw, and that’s what we care about.”Added Hayes: “It was sick to me. … I felt like he’s being rewarded for bad behavior.”The Browns, who have spent two decades in a futile search for a franchise quarterback, pursued Watson along with several other teams. They persuaded him to waive his no-trade clause and join the Browns after he initially rebuffed the team. The Browns sent three first-round draft picks and six picks overall to the Texans for Watson.One of Watson’s lawyers, Leah Graham, was asked to explain on the show why, if he was seeking only professional massages, did Watson end up having sex with some of the women.Advertisement“Well, in every massage, I will tell you he did go intending just for a professional massage, and only those three instances where sexual conduct occurred — consensual sexual activity — it occurred after the massage session had ended,” Graham said. “And Mr. Watson has testified and is insistent that that sexual activity was initiated by the plaintiff in every single instance.”During his introductory news conference with the Browns in March, Watson was adamant he has “never assaulted, disrespected or harassed any woman in my life.” He also said he had no intention of settling the lawsuits outside of court.Watson also faces possible discipline from the NFL, which is independently investigating whether he violated its personal-conduct policy.League investigators interviewed Watson in Houston last week. It’s not known if the inquiry has been completed.The league could wait for a resolution in the lawsuits before announcing a decision or hand out discipline with a caveat that things could change if new information surfaces.Former U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson, a disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association, is the one deciding whether Watson violated the personal-conduct policy. If Watson is suspended and appeals, Commissioner Roger Goodell would handle any reexamination.AdvertisementThe Browns are eager to find out whether they’ll be without Watson for an extended period. The team resumed offseason activities Tuesday and will have a mandatory minicamp next month. Training camp is scheduled for July.Watson treated some of his new teammates to a trip to the Bahamas last week. A team spokesman said he reported for the voluntary offseason program that resumed this week. The Browns will have media availability Wednesday.

News

‘Let’s fuck up the frame’

The Gene Siskel Film Center’s monthlong celebration of Chicago native Haskell Wexler’s centennial concludes May 31. You can still catch Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation and…