House Republicans voted today to pass a bill that would ban transgender students from playing sports at any federally funded schools and education programs. LGBTQ+ advocates condemned the vote. Its unclear when its companion bill in the Republican-controlled Senate will receive a vote and doubtful that the bill will receive enough Democrat support to pass the upper chambers 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster.The bill, entitled the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, passed largely along party lines in a 218-206 vote, with two Democrats supporting the transphobic bill along with all Republicans the Democrats were Texas Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar. Three Republicans and six Democrats didnt vote, while one Democrat voted present, The Hill noted. Related Two House Democrats say they oppose trans athletes competing against girls & women They made their statements after Republicans rad anti-trans political ads against several Democratic candidates. Politico noted that Gonzalez aired an election season ad stating that he opposes trans women playing womens sports, and that the issue was a notable one for Latino voters, the majority of which supported President-elect Donald Trump in the last election.Ina November interview with Politico, Cuellar said that Democrats have underestimated how strongly voters feel about the issue, especially in rural America and his district in South Texas.The bill would amend Title IX the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in government-fundedschools and education programs to prohibit schools from allowing trans female athletes to participate in athletic programs or activitiesdesignated for women or girls. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today While the bill defines sex as based solely on a persons reproductive biology and genetics at birth, the Congressional Equality Caucus, noted that the bill could force any student to answer invasive personal questions about their bodies & face humiliating physical inspections to prove that theyre a girl. The caucus referred to the bill as the Child Predator Empowerment Act. BAD BILL MOVING Its day 12 of the 119th Congress, and House Republicans are already considering a federal ban on trans girls from participating in school sports.Here's a about H.R. 28, better known as the GOPs Child Predator Empowerment Act, and what it means: Congressional Equality Caucus (@EqualityCaucus) January 14, 2025When introducing the bill, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) wrote in a statement that repeatedly misgendered trans women, The radical left is not in step with the American people on the issue of protecting womens sports. Americans have loudly spokenthat they do not want men stealing sports records from women, entering their daughters locker rooms, replacing female athletes onteams, and taking their daughters scholarship opportunities.In a statement opposing the bill, out lesbian Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said, This is interrogation of young girls about their bodies; this asking people to show them whats underneath their underwear. That is what were talking about.Another opponent of the bill, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) wrote, There is no enforcement mechanism in this bill. And when there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door for every enforcement mechanism.While Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) drew criticism after the 2024 election for saying that he opposes trans girls and women in girls and womens sports, he didnt support the bill, calling it too extreme and saying, This is not the sort of balanced, fairness-oriented policy Ive advocated for, and I wont vote yes on this bill just because it is the first option that comes to the floor.Over 400 LGBTQ+ and civil rights groups haveasked congressional legislators to oppose the bill. In a statement against the bills passage in the House, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson wrote, We all want sports to be fair, students to be safe, and young people to have the opportunity to participate alongside their peers. But this kind of blanket ban deprives kids of those things. This bill would expose young people to harassment and discrimination, emboldening people to question the gender of kids who dont fit a narrow view of how theyre supposed to dress or look. It could even expose children to invasive, inappropriate questions and examinations.Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director for Advocates for Trans Equality, wrote in a statement, The American people have a laundry list of urgent matters impacting our families everyday and our ability to put food on our tables and roofs over our heads, and these anti-trans politicians are ignoring the peoples business to take up the hateful agenda of right-wing extremists.In a statement released Tuesday, Allison Scott,Director of Impact and Innovation at theCampaign for Southern Equality,called the House vote a cruel and unjust abuse of power that targets a very small number of young people who just want to play school sports with their friends.I want to send a clear message to transgender young people and their families: No law can strip you of your inherent dignity and humanity, and we will never stop working alongside you and a huge community nationwide to ensure all people can live authentically and with joy, she added, calling upon senators to reject the legislation. Equality California, the states LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, said the vote represents yet another effort [by Republicans] to deny transgender youth the dignity and respect they deserve.Participation in sports provides kids with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, and cooperationfundamental lessons that every young person deserves the chance to experience, the organization stated. Beyond the field, sports also contribute significantly to students overall well-being, fostering better mental health, boosting academic performance, and enhancing self-esteem and confidence.Local schools and athletic associations across the country are already creating policies that protect transgender youth and ensure a level playing field for all studentsand theyre working, the group added. Our schools should be focused on providing the best possible education and helping to improve the well-being of all students, not actively harming students mental health and creating a hostile environment by singling out certain people. Every child deserves equal access to these opportunities.Of all the athletes competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which oversees competition in most federally funded colleges and universities, fewer than 0.002% are estimated to be trans.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.