WASHINGTON — A proposed law aiming to prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in school sports categorized for female athletes did not progress in a divided Senate on Monday. Democrats unanimously opposed the measure, which Republican lawmakers had highlighted during the previous election cycle.
A procedural vote to advance the bill failed, with the measure receiving only 51 votes in favor against the 60 needed. Party lines held firm, resulting in a 51-45 vote split.
The legislation attempted to define Title IX protections explicitly according to “reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Republicans had repeatedly emphasized this issue, portraying it as vital for maintaining athletic equity for women and girls. Last month, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce Title IX in a manner aligning with the administration’s interpretation, associating “sex” with the gender one is assigned at birth.
Yet, Congressional Republicans remained focused on embedding this stance into law by amending the 1972 Title IX, which guards against sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., noted occurrences where “biological men identifying as women” compete in spaces reserved for female athletes, stressing concerns of equity and equal opportunity.
While a similar bill passed in the House with limited Democratic support, the Senate’s rejection of the companion bill highlighted the formidable challenge faced by legislation targeting the LGBTQ community. Critics, including Democrats, viewed the bill as distraction from urgent matters and unwelcome federal encroachment upon local educational policy-making.
Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, argued the proposal fuels cultural conflict without solving actual problems. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., expressed that sports organizations should devise policies considering the welfare of all participants over broad federal mandates that could inadvertently jeopardize student safety.
Nevertheless, Republicans remain committed to this theme, having seen its appeal extend beyond standard partisan boundaries in Trump’s previous presidential campaign. A notable portion of voters pointed out, according to a survey, that backing transgender rights had extended excessively.
Following Trump’s directive, the NCAA modified its policy on transgender athlete participation, restricting women’s sports competitions to those assigned female at birth.
In Minnesota, the state House prepared for a similar discussion regarding a GOP-endorsed law affecting schools at primary and secondary levels. Prior to the debate, numerous supporters gathered in support of the measure, advocating for it as a safeguard for girls’ sports opportunities and safety, ensuring a fair competitive field.
Democrats, alongside LGBTQ+ advocates, rebuked the proposal, describing it as discriminatory. Following the Senate’s dismissal of the bill, Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President, emphasized that all children deserve the right to enjoy their youth and build memories with friends. She criticized the proposal for promoting exclusion of transgender kids from experiencing equal opportunities as their counterparts.
