(NewsNation) — The Senate is slated to vote Thursday on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
The legislation asserts under Title IX protections for female athletes that gender is “recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
“The bill does not prohibit male individuals from training or practicing with programs or activities for women or girls as long as such training or practice does not deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits,” the bill’s summary reads in part.
Its passage through the House was aided by two Texas Democrats, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar. Senate Republicans need the support of seven Democrats for the bill to pass.
The legislation will head to the Senate floor just weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the same goal.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association complied with the order and barred trans athletes from competing in women’s college sports, though proponents of the bans are calling for more.
College athlete hopes Senate will codify trans athletes ban
Sia Li’ili’i, a college athlete and ambassador for the Independent Women’s Forum, told NewsNation’s “Morning In America” the Senate needs to “listen to female athletes like myself, as well as the nation and common sense.”
Li’ili’i is the women’s volleyball co-captain at the University of Nevada, Reno — a team that forfeited a game against San Jose after learning their opponents had a trans woman on the roster.
“I’ve been directly impacted by the participation of transgender athletes in sports — not only did this person take a roster spot from a female athlete, but also the starting position,” she explained.
Li’ili’i said she hopes that, if the bill is signed into law, “this will never happen to another future female athlete” at the college level.
A recent Pew Research Center survey found Americans have grown more supportive of policies restricting trans rights, including in sports participation.
Li’ili’i told NewsNation that shift in attitude has come after “momentous wins” in the House, courts and behind the Oval Office desk.
“People are waking up and seeing that this isn’t right and that female sports need to remain female,” she said.
NCAA President Charlie Baker told a Senate panel in December that he knows of fewer than 10 trans NCAA athletes.
Li’ili’i said that number is “10 too many.”
“Just because a group is marginalized and minority doesn’t mean that they can overstep the rights of women. We are going to be pushed to the side just because of the feelings of 10 people,” Li’ili’i said.
Opponents say trans athletes ban violates civil rights
More than 400 civil rights groups opposed the bill in a Jan. 13 letter to Congress, saying it ultimately “would harm women and girls and undermine civil rights for all students.”
“Although the authors of the legislation represent themselves as serving the interests of cisgender girls and women, this legislation does not address the longstanding barriers all girls and women have faced in their pursuit of athletics,” the letter reads in part.
Those against banning trans athletes are also concerned that restrictions could lead to harmful speculation about athletes’ appearances, whether they’re transgender, intersex or cisgender.
The letter points to the bill’s “vague language” and “intrusive focus on the scrutiny of students’ bodies” as a potential concern.
“… [The bill] will effectively exclude cisgender girls and women with intersex variations from participation, will invite scrutiny and harassment of any other student perceived by anyone as not conforming to sex stereotypes, and will likely be disproportionately used to target all girls and women of color,” the letter reads in part.
A procedural Senate vote for the bill is scheduled for Monday.
