In the hours since a bill defining sex as determined at birth was passed by the Alabama legislature, some state groups have come forward to publicly denounce it.

Opponents say that the bill, SB79, will lead to further marginalization and discrimination for the state’s transgender community.

“SB79 ignores science and erases Alabamians,” wrote self-identified progressive group Unmute Alabama in a post to X on Wednesday.

“It tells our trans neighbors, ‘you don’t exist,’ and it tells everyone else, ‘your rights depend on fitting our definition.’”

“These laws have consequences,” the post continued.

Transgender men and women, as well as others, have appeared at public hearings over the last week to speak in opposition to the bill.

“Today—as one of its first actions in this year’s legislative session—the Alabama legislature gave final approval to a bill allowing discrimination of many Alabamians,” reads a release from A’Niya Robinson, the ACLU of Alabama’s Director of Policy and Organizing.

“We are saddened that after multiple years fighting variations of this bill, Senate Bill 79, the so-called ‘What is a Woman Act,’ or, as we know it, the Trans Erasure Act, is headed to Governor Ivey’s desk.”

The release continues that “SB79 is not consistent with Alabama values, and will unfortunately lead to unnecessary hurt, pain, and suffering, especially among Alabama’s youth.”

Supporters of the bill say it is a commonsense measure that would protect women in single sex spaces, such as restrooms and locker rooms.

But Robinson’s release argues that “it is impossible to erase who someone is, and it is anything but common sense to pretend that they do not exist.”

“While proponents claim the bill advances women’s safety, we disagree,” she wrote.

“If allowing politicians to define women by their biology was the key to a woman’s safety and freedom, women would already be safe and free.”

The bill is a priority for Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature and for Ivey, who mentioned it during her State of the State address last week and said she “look[ed] forward to signing it” in a post to X after this morning’s vote.

The bill, brought forth by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, defines a female as someone whose reproductive system produces ova and a male as someone whose reproductive system produces sperm.

“These efforts to redefine sex and prevent transgender and intersex people from living as the gender they know themselves to be are connected to a larger strategy to push transgender and intersex people out of public and civic life,” Robinson wrote.

“The existence of transgender people is not new—but there is a new and outsized focus on the lives of trans people that is meant to spread fear and anxiety.”

“We will continue to fight and show up for Alabamians targeted for being themselves,” the release concluded.