FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
CONTACT
Christopher Vasquez | NCLR Director of Communications
cvasquez@nclrights.org | 415-365-1337
Floor Vote on H.R. 734 Expected on Thursday
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives is moving toward a floor vote on the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023.” This mean-spirited bill, which should really be called the “Politics Over Participation Act,” would amend Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – landmark legislation designed to eliminate discrimination in education – to mandate discrimination against transgender students in school sports. Less than two weeks ago, the Department of Education proposed a new rule on Title IX and sports that allows for reasonable requirements at elite levels of competition, making this bill unnecessary.
Transgender kids want to participate in sports for the same reasons as other kids – exercise, friendship, learning about hard work and discipline, and fun. Banning transgender children from school teams sends a terrible message – not just to them, but to all kids – that it’s okay to treat people differently because of who they are. That’s why NCLR has filed legal cases challenging sports bans in Utah and Arizona.
Statement from NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter (he/him):
“This week the House for the first time ever will vote on legislation targeting transgender children. We all know what it’s like to be picked on, and what a difference it makes when adults step in to support children who feel excluded or unsafe. This misguided and unnecessary bill does just the opposite. We urge members of the House to look to their better angels and vote against this terrible bill.”
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The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. www.nclrights.org