Vote Explanation - H.R. 734 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, voted on April 20, 2023)
Vote Explanation - H.R. 734 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, voted on April 20, 2023)
On April 30, the House passed H.R. 734, a bill that prohibits, under Title IX, any school that receives federal funding from allowing a person who is assigned male at birth to participate in athletic programs or activities that are designated for women or girls. In other words, transgender athletes will be forced to participate in programs that don’t align with their gender. This bill is part of a broader Republican attack on the rights of transgender people—with detrimental consequences for children’s mental and physical health. I voted no on the bill, and I appreciate the many messages I received from concerned parents and teachers of transgender youth who helped inform this decision.
Our rhetoric as policymakers matters. Research by the Trevor Project highlights that 45 percent of transgender youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, with rates of suicidality influenced by whether or not they found their school or home environment to be identity-affirming. Transgender youth are not inherently prone to suicide; rather, they are placed at higher risk by the persistent stigmatization and demonization directed at them. H.R. 734 adds to a dangerous and unfactual narrative that transgender girls are a threat to cisgender girls, which harms trans girls’ ability to socialize with peers, develop friendships, and maintain their mental health.
The bill is also a blunt tool that over-inflates and antagonizes a small, vulnerable population: a CDC survey found that less than a percent of 13–17-year-old students are transgender girls, while a Human Rights Campaign report showed only 12 to 14 percent of trans students participate in sports. A small fraction of that already tiny percent will go on to be elite athletes. The vast majority of kids this bill harms are not winning national trophies; they’re just playing recreationally with their friends. That’s why we need to make these decisions on a case-by-case basis, not with a blanket ban.
As a father with two young daughters, I am committed to ensuring girls can enjoy equal and safe participation in athletic opportunities. Sport should provide a space for our daughters to develop self-efficacy, confidence, and community. But in the fight to uphold Title IX, we are wrong to single out transgender girls and contribute to discrimination and stigma against them. We are also wrong to violate the privacy of girls by demanding their personal health information, as would be required to enforce this bill. Instead, we must pursue fairness via other avenues.
This is part of why I voted YES to an amendment that will require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to explore any adverse psychological, competitive, or social impacts on girls by including transgender athletes in sporting activities. The goal is to help provide school districts with better metrics for making case-by-case decisions that reduce harm for all parties involved. I look forward to working with constituents and my colleagues to explore other options for ensuring sports can continue supporting the health and well-being of all children.