The House on Tuesday passed legislation to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports in public schools. The “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” passed with 218 votes in favor, 206 against and one present. Two Democrats joined all Republicans in support of the bill, which is now heading to the Senate.
It would amend Title IX — the federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools — to recognize a person’s “sex” as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Those in favor argued that transgender athletes who were born male would have unfair biological advantages over girls and women, which could be unsafe during sports.
“An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that men don’t belong in women’s sports and that we must allow common sense to prevail,” said Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida, who introduced the bill.
Those against it said it could lead to intrusive genital examinations of the student-athletes.
“We’re already seeing examples of…
