House Passes Controversial Bill Banning Transgender Athletes in School Sports

The US House of Representatives, which Republicans dominate, approved legislation Thursday banning transgender women and girls from participating in female school sports.

Rep. Greg Steube's (R-FL) legislation would alter Title IX to prohibit institutions receiving federal funds from allowing students "whose sex is male" to engage in sports specifically meant for women or girls.

According to the definition of sex under the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, it is "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth," according to NBC News.

In the latest GOP move in the cultural warfare over transgender rights in the country, the legislation was approved by a vote of 219-203. Still, the Democratic-controlled Senate will not consider it.

If the controversial bill reaches his desk, President Joe Biden will veto the proposed ban on transgender athletes as it is discriminatory, targeting people based on their identity, according to the White House, The Hill reported.

The federal human rights statute Title IX, which forbids sex-based discrimination in education, would be amended by the measure, which failed to move during the previous three Congresses, to identify sex as "based solely on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth."

It particularly prohibits beneficiaries of government financial aid that conduct athletic activities from permitting transgender women and girls to play on female sports teams.

Transgender Athletes' Rights vs. Protecting The Integrity of Women's Sports

The legislation would not prohibit transgender girls and women from joining female athletic programs for training or competition as long as their participation does not deny any female athlete a spot on a team, access to practice or competition, scholarships, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefits.

Rep. Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, who was the sponsor, brought up the case of Emma Weyant, a resident of his district and a swimmer for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics who placed second in the NCAA women's 500-yard freestyle championship in the previous year, per Spectrum News. Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, who had previously raced for the University of Pennsylvania's men's swimming team for three years, beat her in the race.

Rep. Steube asserted that "the integrity of women's sports must be protected."

On the contrary, Democrats argued that denying rivals the option to join a team sends the message that they are irrelevant and that every kid, regardless of gender identity, deserves the chance to do so.