The Minnesota House of Representatives is set to vote Monday on a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing on girls sports teams.
The proposal passed last week on a party-line vote in the GOP-controlled House Education Policy Committee. While it’s unlikely to become law, GOP lawmakers say the measure is needed to prevent trans athletes from gaining an unfair advantage in women’s sports.
Republicans are holding a rally Monday with swimmer and activist Riley Gaines ahead of the floor vote. LGBTQ+ advocates are set to rally later in the day in opposition to the bill.
Trans athletes and coaches, LGBTQ+ advocates and DFL lawmakers said the bill would discriminate against trans women and girls and could pose problems with enforcement.
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The bill comes as state and federal authorities wrangle over Minnesota’s position on the matter.
The Minnesota High School League has allowed students to participate on teams that best align with their gender identity for 10 years. A recent executive order by President Donald Trump banned transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls sports.
Federal officials are pressuring the state to conform with Trump’s executive order. That includes investigating the high school league policy.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says Minnesota human rights law lets transgender athletes compete in sports consistent with their gender identity and that the state law supersedes Trump’s executive order.
The House GOP bill mirrors Trump’s order. It would bar student athletes from competing on women and girls school athletic teams unless they have “a reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.”
Bill sponsor Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, has said the legislation is “about preserving girls sports for females.”
Rep. Heather Keeler, DFL-Moorhead, said she was concerned the bill would lead to spectators at children’s sporting events demanding students be removed based on their appearances.
“Some kids are taller than other kids. Some kids are just bigger than other kids,” she said. “What I’m worried about is the bullying impact that this will have.”
The DFL-led Minnesota Senate is unlikely to bring the bill up for a floor vote. It could become part of later conversations on education spending and policy proposals.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
