The Minnesota House of Representatives voted against a bill that would have banned transgender athletes from competing on girls’ sports teams, largely along party lines.
A bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Peggy Scott was met with opposition from Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates, who argued that the legislation would discriminate against trans women and girls, and create problems with enforcement. Trans athletes and coaches also expressed concerns about the bill’s impact on their ability to participate safely and fairly in sports.
Minnesota’s current policy allows students to compete on teams that align with their gender identity, which has worked without incident for 10 years. However, federal officials are pressuring the state to comply with an executive order by former President Donald Trump, which banned transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
The House GOP bill mirrored the Trump executive order, but the Minnesota Attorney General says that the state law supersedes it. The rejection of the bill is seen as a victory for LGBTQ+ advocates and trans athletes, who will continue to fight for their rights and equal access to sports.
In a statement, Rep. Leigh Finke, the first openly transgender person elected to the House, said that the bill was unnecessary and failed to address any real problems caused by trans girls in sports. The outcome of the vote has implications for education policy and may lead to further discussions on the issue.
Source: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/03/minnesota-house-set-to-vote-on-banning-transgender-athletes-from-girls-sports