House Passes Bill to Ban Trans Athletes in Girls Sports

The House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which prohibits transgender girls from competing in women's sports, with Texas Democrats Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar being the only members of their party to support the bill. This legislation defines sex based solely on reproductive biology at birth and aims to cut federal funding for schools that allow transgender athletes in girls’ programs. Speaker Johnson praised the bill, asserting that 'men cannot become women,' while Democratic leaders criticized it as harmful to girls and potentially enabling predatory behavior in sports. The bill is now headed to the Senate, where it faces significant hurdles due to the requirement for a supermajority of 60 votes. Both Gonzalez and Cuellar are navigating politically sensitive environments in their predominantly Latino, Trump-voting districts, which influenced their votes. Gonzalez has previously faced backlash from his party for supporting gender-affirming care and is keen to align with his constituency's values against the backdrop of ongoing debates around trans rights.