Following controversial claims about the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have remained silent on the resulting backlash. Last week, they joined 206 Democrats in voting against the bill, which aims to prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. Their argument, suggesting the act would lead to genital examinations of young girls by predators, has been widely criticized as unfounded. The bill contains no such language, and Republicans have clarified that birth certificates could be used to verify birth sex.
Despite multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital, neither Jeffries nor Ocasio-Cortez has addressed the criticism, the subsequent departure of some Democratic voters over the issue, or the data indicating majority Democratic opposition to transgender inclusion in women's sports. Ocasio-Cortez, however, did touch on the topic of transgender culture wars in a recent podcast interview, characterizing them as distractions and advocating for unwavering support of transgender individuals.
This stance follows Ocasio-Cortez's impassioned defense of transgender rights and opposition to the sports bill on the House floor, a speech that drew considerable ridicule. Some Democrats, including Rutgers law professor Gary Francione, have publicly expressed their disapproval of the party's handling of the issue, with Francione even leaving the Democratic Party in protest. He cited the party's rhetoric as dishonest and inflammatory, expressing concern over the use of accusations of pedophilia against those with opposing viewpoints. Francione also indicated that his dissatisfaction is shared by other Democrats in his professional circles.
Recent voter registration data from Pennsylvania, Francione's home state, reveals a decline in Democratic registrations, although the specific reasons remain unclear. Meanwhile, a New York Times/Ipsos poll shows that a significant majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, oppose transgender women competing in women's sports. Only two Texas Democrats broke ranks to vote in favor of the bill, aligning with the broader public sentiment. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate hinges on garnering sufficient Democratic support to overcome a potential filibuster.
Senator Marsha Blackburn expressed hope for bipartisan support in the Senate, noting the widespread belief in the importance of Title IX and fair competition in women's sports. She also questioned the rationale behind the genital examination claims, emphasizing the public's overwhelming support for protecting female athletes.
