WASHINGTON — Transgender athletes whose sex assigned at birth was male would be barred from competing on girls’ or women’s sports teams at federally supported schools and colleges under legislation pushed through Thursday by House Republicans.
The bill, approved by a 219-203 party-line vote, is unlikely to advance further because the Democratic-led Senate will not support it and the White House said President Joe Biden would veto it.
Supporters said the legislation, which would put violators at risk of losing taxpayer dollars, is necessary to ensure competitive fairness. They framed the vote as supporting female athletes disadvantaged by having to compete against those whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. Opponents criticized the bill as ostracizing an already vulnerable group for political gain.
The House action comes as at least 20 states have imposed similar limits on transgender athletes at the K-12 or collegiate level.
The bill would amend the landmark civil rights legislation Title IX, which passed more than 50 years ago. The amendment would prohibit recipients of federal money from permitting a person “whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.” The bill defines sex…
