House Republicans pass two-page bill banning transgender women from female sports: report

Republicans in the United States House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that "seeks to prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in female athletic programs, moving to the national stage an issue that has thus far mainly played out in state legislatures and individual sports associations," The Hill reported.

House Resolution 734 – the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 – is less than two pages long. It mandates that "sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth" and that "nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a recipient from permitting males to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefit that accompanies participating in the athletic program or activity."

HR 734 was approved "in a party-line 219-203 vote" and "is the first standalone bill to restrict the rights of transgender people considered in the House," noted The Hill.

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President Joe Biden's administration threatened to veto HR 734 should it make it through the Demoratic-controlled Senate, which is unlikely. Nonetheless, Congressman Greg Steuebe (R-Florida), the measure's sponsor, tweeted on Monday that "this White House has turned their backs on female athletes. The Left is not only encouraging transgender individuals to invade women's sports, but they celebrate as women are knocked off podiums and shunned to the sidelines. Nothing fair about that."

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The Hill's report is available at this link.