The Minnesota House has rejected a bill that aimed to ban transgender girls from participating in female K-12 sports, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage. The bill, known as HF12 or the “Preserving Girls Sports Act,” was tabled for later consideration after 66 lawmakers voted against it and only 1 voted in favor.
The legislation would have restricted female sports team participation to individuals who were assigned female at birth or have a reproductive system capable of producing eggs. Author Rep. Peggy Scott argued that the bill aimed to ensure fairness, safety, and equal opportunities for female athletes.
However, Democratic lawmakers countered that the bill targeted a small portion of the population, with only about 2.8% of ninth-grade students in Minnesota identifying as transgender. They pointed out that no schools had reported any issues with trans athletes participating on their teams.
The bill’s rejection marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ advocates and critics of the legislation say it sends an important message: that trans girls deserve equal opportunities to participate in sports.
Source: https://www.echopress.com/news/minnesota/minnesota-house-votes-down-passes-stalls-bill-to-ban-transgender-women-from-womens-sports