Senate Dems Block Bill to Ban Biological Males from Women's Sports: Where They Stand

The Senate fell short of passing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Monday, with no Democrats voting in favor of the bill. The proposed legislation sought to bar biological males from participating in women’s and girls’ sports, but it failed to break a filibuster, securing only 51 votes instead of the required 60.

The vote aligned largely along party lines, with Independent senators Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont siding with Democrats. Four senators—two Republicans and two Democrats—were absent from the vote.

The bill, championed by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, aimed to amend Title IX to define gender as "recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth." It also sought to codify a Trump-era executive order on the issue, solidifying its longevity. Despite the bill having over 40 GOP co-sponsors, it did not garner bipartisan support.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin dismissed the bill, calling it federal overreach and stressing the role of state and local leagues in crafting their own policies. "I trust our state and local leagues to craft thoughtful policy where parents and players can be involved in the discussion," she said.

Similarly, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto highlighted her concerns about fairness and safety in sports but criticized the legislation for what she called "incredible government overreach." She argued it could lead to invasive exams for female athletes, putting young women at risk for abuse and harassment.

Sen. Dick Durbin echoed these concerns, urging lawmakers to consider the personal impact on 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," he stated, adding that the bill's provisions could lead to invasive physical inspections.

Other senators dismissed the legislation as a political ploy. Sen. John Hickenlooper criticized it as an attempt to "churn the social wars," while Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner argued that Congress should prioritize economic issues over divisive cultural battles.

Polling on the issue reveals a divided public. A Concerned Women for America survey found that 70% of moderate voters consider transgender participation in women’s sports an important issue. Meanwhile, a New York Times/Ipsos poll showed that 67% of Democrats oppose allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.

Despite these figures, many Democratic senators declined to release statements explaining their votes, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand. Republicans, however, have seized on the vote as evidence of Democrats being out of touch with public sentiment.

As the debate continues, the failed vote underscores the growing cultural and political divide over transgender athletes in sports. For now, it seems, this contentious issue will remain in the hands of local and state authorities rather than federal lawmakers.