Senate Democrats Reject Bill Aimed at Preventing Biological Males in Women’s Sports

Senate Democrats Reject Bill Aimed at Preventing Biological Males in Women’s Sports

No Senate Democrat cast a vote in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act during a procedural vote on Monday. The proposed legislation aimed to bar biological males from competing in women’s and girls’ sports. Republicans in the Senate needed a minimum of 60 votes to overcome a filibuster but managed to secure only 51 votes.

Among those voting with the Democrats were Independent Senators Angus King from Maine and Bernie Sanders from Vermont. Additionally, four senators were absent during the vote, including Democratic Senators Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and Peter Welch from Vermont, as well as Republican Senators Shelley Capito from West Virginia and Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming.

Democratic Senators Weigh In on the Bill

Senator Tammy Baldwin released a statement to Fox News Digital in response to the proposed legislation. She emphasized that the federal government should not dictate policies to state and local sports leagues.

“I trust our state and local leagues to craft thoughtful policy where parents and players can be involved in discussions about what is best for our children without interference from the President or Congress,” Baldwin stated.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto expressed her support for fairness in women’s sports but criticized the bill for governmental overreach.

“I support fair play and safety and do not support transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports when it compromises those principles,” she stated. “Local schools, student athletes, coaches, and parents are much better equipped to implement fair, strong policies than politicians in Congress.” Cortez Masto highlighted the risk of invasive physical exams which would arise from the legislation, labeling it as intolerable government interference that could put young women at risk for abuse and harassment.

Senator Dick Durbin echoed similar sentiments, urging lawmakers to consider the personal experiences of families with transgender children.

“Imagine being the parent of a trans kid and telling your child they are not allowed to play on the same sports team as their friends at school because a politician said they couldn’t,” Durbin remarked. He voiced concern about the implications of allowing opponents to physically inspect female athletes accused of being transgender.

Impact on College Athletics

Durbin referenced NCAA President Charlie Baker’s testimony which stated there are fewer than ten transgender athletes in collegiate athletics. This topic became more contentious after the Trump administration issued an executive order to keep biological males out of women’s sports.

Senator John Fetterman noted the need to advocate for the small number of transgender athletes caught in the political fray. “The small handful of trans athletes in Pennsylvania deserve an ally,” he stated. He critiqued impersonal political ads that diminish these athletes to mere statistics.

A Focus Beyond Sports

Senator Rubén Gallego articulated indifference to the issue relative to more pressing matters affecting constituents in Arizona.

“If you’re running and you don’t have any other identity and you’re not known for fighting for people to have a decent living, these outside fringe issues will work against you,” he commented, emphasizing his commitment to advocating for the American dream.

Senator John Hickenlooper criticized the timing of the bill, claiming that Senator Tommy Tuberville, the bill’s sponsor, aimed to stoke social wars over an issue he deemed exaggerated.

Democrats Argue for Local Control

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner articulated their opposition, underscoring the importance of focusing on pressing issues such as rising grocery prices rather than imposing constraints on how schools manage sports programs.

“Instead of working to threaten our public schools and colleges, we should leave decisions about integrating transgender students into sports to parents, educators, and state athletic associations,” they declared.

Senator Angus King acknowledged the complexities surrounding fairness and safety in athletics yet ultimately rejected the bill for its potential adverse effects on educational funding.

“Should one school in Maine include a single trans student on a team, the state could lose critical funding, harming all students for the sake of a few,” King warned. He underscored the importance of local decision-making and advocated for state rights concerning this contentious issue.

Democrats Stay Silent on Their Votes

Several Democratic senators refrained from commenting on their decision regarding the bill. Among those who did not make statements were Senators Angela Alsobrooks from Maryland, Michael Bennet from Colorado, and Cory Booker from New Jersey.

Public Opinion on Transgender Athletes

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act aimed to amend Title IX to establish gender based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The bill boasted more than 40 co-sponsors in the Senate and sought to solidify policies similar to those established by previous Trump executive orders.

According to a national exit poll by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee, a significant 70% of moderate voters consider issues surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in sports important. Of those, 6% identified it as paramount, and 44% deemed it very important.

Conversely, a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll indicated a solid majority of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, oppose allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

Reporting by Fox News Digital contributed to this analysis.