Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, has openly criticized Republicans for prioritizing legislation that restricts transgender athletes' participation in sports. McBride, representing Delaware, a state without such restrictive laws, expressed her bewilderment at the GOP's focus on this issue, particularly given their recent electoral gains. She suggested to The Independent that this emphasis seems like a political maneuver designed to divert attention from other matters.
This criticism comes as Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, aiming to define gender based on biological sex at birth within Title IX. This legislation, which is expected to receive a floor vote, seeks to prevent federal funding for athletic programs that allow biological males to compete in women's sports. Currently, 28 states have enacted some form of limitation on transgender athletes' participation in sports.
Meanwhile, debates continue on Capitol Hill regarding restroom access for McBride. This coincides with former President Trump's previous statements about banning transgender women from women's sports and President Biden's recent withdrawal of proposed protections for transgender athletes.
Tuberville, a former college football coach, emphasized his commitment to protecting women's sports, citing public opinion polls and expressing concern about the future of Title IX. He framed his legislation as necessary to safeguard the rights of girls and women to compete fairly. He also mentioned his granddaughter as motivation for his stance on this issue.
This report includes contributions from Fox News' Julia Johnson.
