Loeffler Bill Could Subject School Girl Athletes to Genital Exams
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill that could lead to girls competing in school sports being subjected to genital exams.
The “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports” act would ban transgender girls from competing in school sports with their gender and threaten federal funding to schools that support transgender students.
Loeffler’s bill would classify participation by biological males in athletic programs that are designated for women and girls a violation of Title IX.
Proud to lead this effort in defense of women & girls.
Title IX established a fair chance for girls of all ages to compete—Sports should be no exception.@SenMikeLee @MarshaBlackburn @SenatorLankford @SenTomCotton & I are ensuring a level playing field. https://t.co/stG06XTW52
— Senator Kelly Loeffler (@SenatorLoeffler) September 22, 2020
Similar legislation passed in Idaho earlier this year. At the time it was widely criticized because it allowed anyone to challenge a student athlete’s gender, which would force the girl or woman to undergo DNA tests and genital exams.
Loeffler’s bill says that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” in girls’ and women’s sports. But it does not explain exactly how schools are to determine a student athlete’s gender. Nor does it address the issue of transgender boys competing in boys’ and men’s sports.
Conservative groups have urged Donald Trump to make transgender girls and women competing in school sports a wedge issue in the November election. It appears that Loeffler thinks it will be a difference-maker in her tough race with Georgia Rep. Doug Collins to hold on to her senate seat.
That race has devolved into a nasty street fight among two firebrand conservatives. It was reported today that Loeffler tried to pressure Trump to get Collins to pull out of the race by threatening to withhold a $50 million campaign donation she said she was prepared to make.
The Georgia senator’s bill is co-sponsored by GOP senators Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), James Lankford (Okla.) and Mike Lee (Ut.). Similar legislation was introduced in the House this past January by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.).
Loeffler’s proposal drew both strident support and criticism on social media.
She introduces bill that could require genital exams for girls competing in school sports? How is that protecting women?
— Vigilant Violet #ForThePeopleAct (@VioletReads) September 24, 2020