Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Bill to Block Transgender Girls from Women’s Sports

Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced a bill this week that would use Title IX rules to not allow transgender girls from competing in women’s athletics run by federally funded schools.

The congresswoman released a statement late last week on the “Protect Women’s Sports Act” saying states were “misinterpreting Title IX provisions against sex-based discrimination to create “undue hardship” for female athletes, according to a report from Newsweek.

“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.”

Rep. Gabbard went on to add that it was “critical” that Title IX ensured that women and girls were allowed to “compete and excel on a level playing field” in sports teams and contests, according to Newsweek.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) co-sponsored the bill and released a similar statement to Rep. Gabbard’s.

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“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports diminishes that equality and takes away from the original intent of Title IX,” he said, according to Newsweek. “As the father of three girls involved in athletics, I want them to be able to compete on a level playing field.”

According to bill text shared by the KITV4 reporter Tom George on social media, the “Protect Women’s Sports Act” would make it a violation of Title IX protections in the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded schools to allow people born as male to compete in women’s sports programs and activities, Newsweek reported.

To read the full story from Newsweek about Rep. Gabbard’s bill to block transgender girls from competing in women’s sports, click here.