Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation with a Republican that would block transgender females from participating and competing in women’s sports at federally funded universities and programs.
The bill, called the Protect Women’s Sports Act, centers on what Gabbard said is a misinterpretation of the use of Title IX, which aims to protect people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that get federal financial assistance. Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate, argues the federal civil rights law is being used to limit opportunities for women in sports by allowing transgender females to compete in women’s divisions.
“Title IX is being weakened by some states who are misinterpreting Title IX, creating uncertainty, undue hardship and lost opportunities for female athletes,” Gabbard said in a statement. “Our legislation protects Title IX’s original intent which was based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, who argued that he hoped Congress would place certain measures on Title IX that narrow its guidelines for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports diminishes that equality and takes away from the original intent of Title IX,” he said. “As the father of three girls involved in athletics, I want them to be able to compete on a level playing field.”
The bill follows a similar proposal by Senate Republicans, which is currently stuck in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which is sponsored by several senators, including Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, would similarly make it a violation of Title IX for transgender women to compete in women’s sports at federally funded universities.
Gabbard has held her seat since 2013, but her tenure in Congress is about to end. She chose not to seek reelection this year as she focused on her presidential campaign.
