(Photo : Unsplash/Ashley de Lotz)
House Republicans are looking to reignite a controversial topic by launching a second legislative push aimed at barring transgender women and girls from competing in female school sports teams. With a keen focus on the upcoming 2024 campaign, this issue has been earmarked as a top priority for the GOP.
The Vitals of the 'Save Women's Sports Act'
The aptly labeled "Save Women's Sports Act" introduces mandates for public K-12 schools and colleges to classify sports teams - club and intramural included- based on one's sex at birth rather than their identified gender. The Hill has obtained a draft of the bill revealing that the outlined restrictions will also apply to private schools reliant on federal financial assistance.
A significant clause reveals that only 'biological females at birth' will be eligible for athletic teams designated exclusively female. Schools in breach of this ruling stand to lose access to federal funding. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), a noteworthy advocate for the bill, is set to present the legislation next week.
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Echoing a Similar Legal Stance
Not dissimilar from a law within Montana passed in 2021, McClian's proposal takes a similar stance. However, a federal judge controversially ruled the restrictions on transgender college athletes as unconstitutional last year, leaving untouched the provision barring K-12 transgender students from participating in sports teams aligned with their gender identity.
According to the Movement Advancement Project - an entity in charge of tracking LGBTQ legislation, similar bans have found footing in at least twenty-four states since 2020. On the other hand, some restrictions established by lawmakers within Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and West Virginia are momentarily stalled due to court orders.
Reiterating a Separate Bill
The House greenlit a separate bill to prohibit transgender girls and women from playing sports teams in schools earlier in April. Rep. Greg Stuebe's (R-Fla.) "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act" looks to limit the participation of transgender athletes by amending Title IX - a federal civil rights law restricting sex-based discrimination at federally funded schools - to depict sex as "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth."
The bill, passing with a 219-203 majority, hasn't reached before the Democrat-held Senate. The White House has also flagged President Biden's desire to veto the bill should it land on his desk.
An Outspoken Transgender Sports Critic
McClain, known for her vocal stance criticizing transgender female athletes, also took strides to voice her stance during a House subcommittee hearing titled "The Importance of Protecting Female Athletics and Title IX." Here, she referred to transgender women as "men", citing an impending danger and fundamental unfairness in permitting transgender athletes to play female sports.
During the nearly three-hour hearing, McClain gave the audience glimpses of her impending bill, inferring that while transgender people have the freedom to identify, the American people bear no responsibility to fund it.
Support for McClain came from other House Republicans and testified accounts of Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, who spoke about legislation barring transgender women and girls from girl's sports teams, locker rooms, and restrooms. Furthermore, Gaines, who tied for fifth place in last year's NCAA championships with Lia Thomas - the first female transgender to win a Division I national title - accompanied McClain to President Biden's State of the Union address in February.
In light of these legislative changes, it's pivotal to remember your rights. If you or someone you know is impacted by these proposed changes, don't hesitate to seek legal help. Understanding your rights and seeking professional advice is essential for fairness, equality, and personal justice.
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