04 February 2023 , 17:34
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An association is set to decide in late February whether student-athletes in Florida will have to disclose details about their menstruation, in - what would be - a controversial move.
Students in Florida are asked questions about whether they are menstruating, as well as details on their cycle, as part of their medical history.
Such questions are included in a form they have to fill out before they are allowed to take part in sports, and have been so for over two decades, but answering them has been optional as of yet.
The Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) now weighs up on whether these should be made mandatory.
The move sparked controversy with some suggesting it aims to target transgender athletes and force them to come out, as part of the state’s attempt to roll back transgender rights.
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Critics claim the move targets transgender athletes (Getty Images)A draft medical history form making the questions mandatory has been published by the FHSAA.
Specifically, on the form students were asked 'Have you had a menstrual period?' and if the answer is 'Yes', they must then answer 'How old were you when you had your first menstrual period?'; 'When was your most recent menstrual period?'; and 'How many periods have you had in the past 12 months?'.
Other than those, the form mainly asks about the athlete’s cardiac health, medications and history of injury.
It comes after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved a bill last year that banned transgender female students from playing on women's and girls’ sports teams.
Social media users were suggesting the conservative Republican governor, who has been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes, is again using sports to stoke controversy as he weighed up a run for president in 2024.
Even though the proposed mandate wasn’t developed by DeSantis’ office, critics blasted the conservative politician on social media over the change.
One Twitter user wrote in a post: "Ron DeSantis: The government has no right in telling federal employees to wear masks. Also Ron DeSantis: The government has every right to know when every single high school girl has her period.
"Ron DeSantis is the epitome of hypocrisy and quite the creep!"
The post had been liked or shared more than 3,000 times as of Friday.
FHSAA's board of directors will decide whether the draft form will be adopted at its upcoming meeting scheduled for February 26-27.
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The association is recognised as the state’s official governing body for interscholastic sports. Its board includes a representative for the office of state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, who DeSantis appointed. Diaz also picks three others to serve on the 16-member board.
Defending the changes, Ryan Harrison, the association’s spokesperson, said the proposal is not in response to concerns about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
He said: "There is absolutely no support of the argument that their recommendation is aimed towards addressing an individual group of people".