Minnesota House to vote on banning trans athletes in girls' sports
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The national political fight over transgender youth competing in girls' sports lands at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday.
Driving the news: Republicans are using their temporary advantage in the state House to hold a vote on a bill limiting girls' school sports to athletes who are biologically female.
- Though it's not expected to pass, the measure will bring crowds to the Capitol supporting opposing sides of the debate.
- A "Protect Girls Sports" rally featuring collegiate swimmer turned conservative activist Riley Gaines and a "Let Kids Play" field day by LGBTQ+ advocates will both be hosted on the mall Monday.
The big picture: The vote comes as Minnesota braces for a legal battle with the Trump administration over his executive order barring transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports.
State of play: The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) policy allowing students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity has been in place for more than a decade.
Zoom in: The bill, HF 12, would change that by stating that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls."
- It defines female as "biologically determined by genetics and defined with respect to an individual's reproductive system."
Friction point: Advocates of the ban contend that allowing trans athletes to play girls' sports could lead to unfair advantages or a greater potential risk of injuries to other players.
- Critics counter that a ban discriminates against trans girls and strips them of the positive experience of team sports.
By the numbers: Recent state surveys show roughly 3% of ninth graders identify as transgender girls or gender nonconforming.
- National and state studies suggest that between 15% and 26% of transgender youth participate in sports.
What they're saying: House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) told reporters the bill is a "big priority... because of the confusion and the concern" around the issue.
- "We want to keep girls in girls sports in a safe way," she said, citing "potential physical makeup differences" at the high school level and polling showing strong support for restrictions.
The other side: Kat Rohn, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group OutFront Minnesota, criticized the bill as unconstitutional and said it's based on a "categorically not true" idea that all trans athletes are "just male athletes," when they are in a range of bodies and stages of development.
- Even if the bill fails, she's worried about increased harassment against trans athletes or a chilling effect for participation as a result of the debate.
- "There's a real sense of sports as a lifeline for some of these kids, where they're beloved teammates," she said. "This has been a space of support for them where they've found friendships and confidence and gotten involved in physical activity."
Between the lines: Though Republicans' 67-66 edge due to a vacancy allows them to pass bills out of committee and bring them up for a vote, proposals still need 68 ayes to pass the chamber.
- Democrats said at a committee hearing last month that none of their members will vote for this bill.
The bottom line: The political debate over Minnesota's policies will continue regardless of the outcome of Monday's vote.
- MSHSL is facing both a Title IX investigation and the threat of a lawsuit from the Department of Justice if it doesn't comply with Trump's order.
The league — and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — have said the state's constitution and Human Rights Act supersede the federal executive order.