The new Republican-controlled Congress is set to consider a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports in its first 100 days. The bill, known as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, seeks to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 to base sex on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth for determining compliance with title IX in athletics. This move comes after Democrats have introduced bills to protect transgender inclusion in sports, but have faced backlash and challenges in passing legislation.
The Biden administration had taken steps to enable transgender inclusion through executive orders, but efforts have stalled amid backlash and challenges in an election year. President-elect Trump and other Republicans have vowed to take action to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports, leading to the reintroduction of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act by Rep. Greg Steube. The bill aims to ensure that biological females compete against other biological females in women’s sports operated or sponsored by a recipient of federal funding.
Women’s activist groups and conservative advocacy organizations have praised the prioritization of the bill, citing concerns about men competing in women’s sports and sharing locker rooms with biological women and girls. The Concerned Women for America commended the legislative action, stating that it is a priority to restore sensibility to public policy and protect young girls from woke ideology. Heritage Action for America also celebrated the vote, emphasizing the need for Congress to enact a bold conservative agenda.
A national exit poll conducted by the CWA legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters viewed Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men competing in girls’ and women’s sports as an important issue, with 6% considering it the most important issue. The growing debate over transgender inclusion in sports has shifted political dynamics and ignited a national counterculture, with strong opinions on both sides of the issue.
As the new Congress moves forward with this legislation, the issue of transgender inclusion in women’s sports continues to be a controversial and divisive topic. While some argue for the protection of women’s sports and the exclusion of transgender athletes, others advocate for inclusion and equality for all individuals, regardless of gender identity. It remains to be seen how this bill will progress and what impact it will have on the future of women’s athletics in the United States.
