The Republican-controlled House passed legislation on 20 April that would see transgender women and girls banned from competing in certain female school athletics.
The bill, which was authored by Rep. Greg Steube, would alter Title IX to prohibit schools and universities that receive federal funding from allowing those “whose sex is male” to take part in sports teams for women or girls.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would see such a ban implemented under the guise of protecting women’s sports. “You should hang your heads in shame,” said Massachusetts congresswoman Katherine Clark, the House Democratic whip, when she spoke during a debate.
She added that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being pushed by Republicans would further “incite fear and discrimination and hatred” against trans youth across the US. READ MORE: Majority of anti-trans adults don’t know any trans people, study finds “What are we doing here?” she continued. “What are we doing here as members of Congress?” Democrats in the House unanimously voted against the bill in a strictly party-line vote, with it expected to make no progress in the Democratic-controlled Senate.