This Thursday, the Republican-controlled House passed legislation that would ban transgender women and girls from competing in female school athletics.
According to The Hill, the bill— titled the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and authored by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) — passed in a party-line 219-203 vote. It would amend Title IX to bar schools that receive federal funding from allowing people “whose sex is male” to participate in sports designated for women or girls.
However, it was noted that it would not block transgender women and girls from training or practicing with female athletic programs as “long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, the opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution.”
So what happens now? it will go nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate as it’s not supported. The White House has also said President Joe Biden would veto the measure if it were to make it to his desk as it “targets people for who they are and therefore is discriminatory.”
In an April 17 press release, the White House clearly stated that “The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 734. For students nationwide, participating in sports and being part of a team is an important part of growing up, staying engaged in school, and learning leadership and life skills.
“H.R. 734 would deny access to sports for many families by establishing an absolute ban on transgender students—even those as young as elementary schoolers—playing on a team consistent with their gender identity. Schools, coaches, and athletic associations around the country are already working with families to develop participation rules that are fair and that take into account particular sports, grade levels, and levels of competition.
“As a national ban that does not account for competitiveness or grade level, H.R. 734 targets people for who they are and therefore is discriminatory. Politicians should not dictate a one-size-fits-all requirement that forces coaches to remove kids from their teams.“
“At a time when transgender youth already face a nationwide mental health crisis, with half of transgender youth in a recent survey saying they have seriously considered suicide, a national law that further stigmatizes these children is completely unnecessary, hurts families and students, and would only put students at greater risk.
“Discrimination has no place in our nation’s schools or on our playing fields. Instead of addressing the pressing issues that families and students face today—such as raising teacher pay, keeping guns out of schools, addressing the mental health crisis our youth face, and helping students learn and recover academically from unprecedented disruptions—Congressional Republicans have instead chosen to prioritize policies that discriminate against children. If the President were presented with H.R. 734, he would veto it.”
The legislation comes at a time when numerous states are trying to pass similar laws banning transgender students from participating in sports teams that go with their gender identity.