Bill to ban biological men from women's sports gains bipartisan support in Congress

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation to ban biological males from participating in women’s sports. 

Gabbard, a Democrat who ran for the 2020 presidential nomination for her party, is the sponsor of H.R. 8932, the “Protect Women’s Sports Act,” alongside Reps. Markwayne Mullin, (R-Okla.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Rep. Alexander Mooney (R-W.V.), and Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.).

The legislation aims “to provide that for purposes of determining compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in athletics, sex shall be determined on the basis of biological sex as determined at birth by a physician.”

In a joint press release with Mullin, Gabbard explained that Title IX “led to a generational shift that impacted countless women, creating life-changing opportunities for girls and women that never existed before.”

[RELATED: Cornell offers ‘person of color’ exemption for flu vaccine requirement]

“However, Title IX is being weakened by some states who are misinterpreting Title IX, creating uncertainty, undue hardship and lost opportunities for female athletes,” continued the congresswoman from Hawaii. “Our legislation protects Title IX’s original intent which was based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex.”

“It is critical that the legacy of Title IX continues to ensure women and girls in sports have the opportunity to compete and excel on a level playing field,” she added.

Mullin added that “Title IX was designed to give women and girls an equal chance to succeed, including in sports. Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports diminishes that equality and takes away from the original intent of Title IX.” 

[RELATED: Berkeley English prof tells people to ‘burn’ ‘transphobic’ book]

Title IX exists to ensure that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The Trump administration reversed Obama-era Title IX rules related to protecting due process for those accused of sexual assault in the summer of 2020, as Campus Reform previously reported.

Emilie Kao, director of the Heritage Foundation’s DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, told Campus Reform that “Rep. Gabbard took a courageous stand for fairness and female athletes around the country.”

“Biology matters in many areas,” she explained. “It matters in sports because it determines competitiveness, performance, and results. There is widespread bipartisan support for keeping male and female sports separate. Americans know that the law should protect fair competition by acknowledging the reality of sex differences.”

[RELATED: 17 states, DC sue Betsy DeVos over Trump admin’s due process protections]

Campus Reform reached out to Gabbard’s office for comment; this article will be updated accordingly.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @BenZeisloft