Democrats say ‘creepy’ GOP transgender athletes bill would require genital inspections
Cami Mondeaux
Video Embed
Top House Democrats are seeking to flip the script on the debate of transgender athletes participating in high school sports, denouncing Republicans’ efforts to ensure athletes compete with members of their own biological sex as “creepy.”
The shift in tone comes as the House is set to vote on a bill later this week that would prohibit biological males from competing in female sports by mandating one’s sex to be “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Democratic leaders decried the bill, pointing to similar legislation making its way through the Florida legislature and other states as being too intrusive.
HOUSE ADVANCES PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS AND BAN ON BIOLOGICAL MALES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS
“This is a creepy bill,” said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. “The only way to enforce this bill is to empower school officials to inspect the genitals of kids. … Let’s work on actual things that matter to the American people.”
Other Democrats echoed similar comments, noting the bill was unnecessary because several athletic organizations already have rules in place limiting transgender athletes’ participation in some cases.
Under NCAA rules, transgender athletes are permitted to play on the sports teams they choose so long as they submit documentation adhering to rules on hormonal treatment. For example, a transgender woman may not play on a female sports team if the athlete is not taking hormone treatments, according to the rules.
The athlete can later be added to the team if being treated with testosterone suppression medication — but only if the school changes the status of the team to “mixed.” The NCAA rules closely align with those used by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
“This is Republican culture wars going into our classrooms from Washington, D.C. There are already rules, and there are already organizations who are taking the lead on this,” Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) said. “Are Republicans advocating for coaches to inspect young women? For a referee or an athletic director? That’s what this is about. And so if you have a young daughter playing sports, you should be incredibly concerned about this bill because that’s the next step.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
At least 21 states have laws in place that ban transgender athletes from participating in sports that align with their gender identity, with three of those states stalled as they face court challenges. The bill being considered by the House this week would amend Title IX, which is a comprehensive law enacted nationwide that prohibits discrimination based on sex.
The amendment would allow transgender females to train and practice with female sports teams so long as the athlete’s participation does not prevent a biological female athlete from being included on the roster.