House Passes Bill Barring Men from Competing in Women’s Sports with Limited Democratic Support

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Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” a Republican-led bill that would prohibit men from competing in women’s school sports. The legislation passed primarily along partisan lines but saw support from a few Democratic members, reflecting growing bipartisan concern over the issue.

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Democratic Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar, who represent more conservative districts in Texas, joined Republicans in voting for the bill. Representative Don Davis, also a Democrat, voted “present,” signaling neither support nor opposition. The bill’s passage highlights the ongoing cultural and political debates over gender identity and its implications for sports and public policy.

Introduced by Republican Congressman Greg Steube of Florida, the concise three-page legislation aims to ensure fairness in women’s athletics by barring any athletic programs receiving federal funds from allowing male-bodied individuals to compete in women’s sports. However, the bill does permit men to train or practice with women’s teams as long as no female athlete loses a roster spot, scholarship, or other opportunities as a result.

“An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that men don’t belong in women’s sports and that we must allow common sense to prevail,” Steube stated during floor debate.

The bill also mandates the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the benefits of single-sex sports for women and girls and what could be lost if males are allowed to participate. Advocates argue the legislation protects the integrity of women’s sports, while critics claim it discriminates against transgender athletes.

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While most Democrats opposed the measure, cracks in the party’s stance on gender ideology are becoming apparent. Some Democrats are reconsidering their positions, wary of the political consequences of opposing such measures.

Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who has two young daughters, expressed concerns about the issue last year, stating, “I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.” Despite these remarks, Moulton voted against the bill, facing backlash from Massachusetts Democrats who accused him of transphobia and vowed to challenge him in the next election.

Representative Tom Suozzi of New York echoed similar concerns, urging Democrats to distance themselves from what he described as the party’s “radical positions” on social issues. “I don’t want to discriminate against anybody, but I don’t think biological boys should be playing in girls’ sports,” Suozzi said.

The issue of men competing in women’s sports has become a major cultural and political flashpoint. In the recent election, voters rejected policies promoting gender ideology while prioritizing concerns about border security and the economy. The Trump campaign capitalized on this momentum, using the topic as a focal point in its messaging.

Republicans have also highlighted related controversies, such as policies allowing male inmates identifying as women to be housed in women’s prisons, as well as the use of taxpayer funds for gender-transition surgeries for undocumented immigrants.

Unlike in 2023, when the bill was stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, the current Republican majority gives the legislation a greater chance of advancing.

 

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