Senate blocks Bill to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports |
Legislation aimed at barring transgender women and girls from participating in female-designated school athletic competitions failed to advance in the US Senate on Monday night, as Democrats united against the measure.
The bill, which sought to define Title IX protections based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth, fell short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. The vote ended in a 51-45 split along party lines, underscoring the political divide on the issue.
Republicans have framed the bill as a necessary measure to preserve fairness in women’s sports, arguing that transgender women hold an unfair advantage. “Around the country, we have seen biological men who identify as women take up spaces and medals in athletics meant for actual women,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. “This is a matter of fairness and equality.”
The House had previously passed a similar bill, with only two Democrats voting in favor. However, the Senate’s rejection highlights the challenge of enacting such legislation at the federal level. Democrats dismissed the bill as an unnecessary political maneuver and an overreach into local school policies.
“What Republicans are doing today is inventing a problem to stir up a culture war and divide people against each other,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., argued that decisions regarding transgender athletes should be made by sports leagues rather than through broad legislative mandates.
The issue has remained a focal point for Republicans, particularly as President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month directing federal agencies to enforce Title IX in accordance with his administration’s view that sex is determined at birth.
The NCAA has since updated its policy, restricting participation in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth.
In Minnesota, the state House prepared for a similar debate on a GOP-backed bill affecting primary and secondary schools. Supporters gathered outside the state Capitol in St. Paul, advocating for the measure as a safeguard for fairness in girls’ sports, while opponents, including LGBTQ+ activists, condemned it as discriminatory.
Following the Senate bill’s failure, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson criticized the legislation, stating: “Every child should have the opportunity to experience the simple joys of being young and making memories with their friends. Bills like these send the message that transgender kids don’t deserve the same opportunities to thrive as their peers simply because of who they are.”
Despite the setback, Republicans appear committed to continuing their efforts on the issue, with Trump’s campaign finding that concerns over transgender athletes resonate beyond traditional party lines. According to AP VoteCast, more than half of surveyed voters believe support for transgender rights has gone too far.
As legislative battles continue across multiple states, the debate over transgender participation in sports remains a deeply divisive issue in American politics.
