House Republicans pass bill prohibiting men from most women's sports

House Republicans on Thursday passed a bill prohibiting biological men who identify as transgender women and girls from participating in certain school sports designated for women. 

Bill H.R. 734, known as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, was sponsored by Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and was approved along party lines with 219 to 203 votes.

The legislation defines sex based on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth, amending Title IX, a federal education law that bans sex-based discrimination. It also bars biological men who identify as transgender women from playing on women's teams.

While not being able to participate in tournaments, transgender students would still be able to practice or train in a women's or girls' team, “so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution.”

“Men shouldn’t be able to compete in women’s sports,” said Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise, the House majority leader.

“This is about protecting women’s sports now and into the future,” House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.). 

The bill, however, still must pass the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed by President Biden. Biden already stated in a statement of administration policy that he would veto the bill if it made its way to his desk. 

Several Democratic and civil rights groups supporting transgender students criticized the bill, calling it a political attack. 

“We will not let anti-LGBTQI+ Republicans — who have refused to work with us on addressing real gender equity issues— use ‘protecting women’ as an excuse to attack trans youth,” said Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel in a statement.

“When my Republican colleagues want to join with us to address the actual pressing issues impacting girls’ and women’s sports, I stand ready to work with them.”

Earlier this month, the Biden administration proposed changes to Title IX that would forbid schools and colleges from banning transgender athletes from sports teams. Under the proposal, however, teams could limit participation under certain circumstances to ensure fairness. 

Since 2020, at least 23 states have passed bans or restrictions that prevent transgender athletes from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign.