On March 3, Senate Democrats successfully filibustered the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a Republican-led bill aimed at prohibiting biological males from competing in female sports categories. The procedural vote concluded with a 51-45 tally, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance the legislation.
Introduced by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the bill sought to amend Title IX to define sex based solely on an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This definition would effectively bar transgender women and girls from participating in female-designated sports teams.
The proposed legislation aimed to codify President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed on February 5, 2025. The order directs federal agencies to withhold funding from educational institutions that permit transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Proponents of the bill, primarily Republicans, argued that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines fair competition and disadvantages cisgender female athletes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated, “This is a matter of fairness and equality.”
Opponents, including all Senate Democrats, contended that the bill constitutes federal overreach and targets transgender individuals. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) criticized the legislation as an attempt to “stir up a culture war and divide people against each other.”
A New York Times/Ipsos survey conducted in January 2025 revealed that 79% of Americans oppose allowing transgender female athletes to compete in women’s sports, including 67% of Democrats.
Despite the bill’s failure at the federal level, several states continue to pursue legislation restricting transgender participation in women’s sports. In Minnesota, for example, the state House is debating a similar GOP-backed bill applicable to primary and secondary schools.
