On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports at schools and colleges that receive federal funding. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) and co-sponsored by 47 other Republicans. It passed by a vote of 219 to 203, with no Democrats supporting it.
The bill aims to restore the original intent of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. The bill states that “sex” under Title IX “shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” It also authorizes the Department of Education to withhold federal funds from schools that violate Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to participate in sports programs designed for the opposite sex.
The bill’s supporters argue that allowing biological males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports is unfair and harmful to female athletes. They cite examples of transgender athletes dominating women’s competitions and taking away scholarships and opportunities from biological females. They also claim that transgender athletes have an inherent physical advantage over females due to their muscle mass, bone density, and testosterone levels.
“It’s about muscle mass and fairness,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said at a press conference before the vote. He was joined by several female student-athletes who had lost to transgender competitors in their sports. “This is not about politics. This is not about hate. This is about science,” McCarthy added.
The bill’s opponents argue that banning transgender athletes from women’s sports is discriminatory and violates their civil rights. They contend that transgender athletes do not threaten women’s sports and deserve respect and inclusion. They also point out that many athletic organizations have policies that allow transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identity or hormone levels.
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority. President Joe Biden has also vowed to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The White House said the bill “targets people for who they are and therefore is discriminatory.” The statement also said that “transgender youth already face a nationwide mental health crisis” and that the bill would “further harm them.”
House Republican Conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told that despite Biden’s opposition, Republicans “are going to continue driving this agenda, and we’re going to win in 2024 to pass this into law.” Stefanik was one of the leading advocates for the bill and organized a press conference with other Republican women lawmakers to celebrate its passage.