The "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025" amends Title IX to prohibit individuals born male from participating in women's and girls' athletic programs in educational institutions that receive federal funds, defining "sex" as determined at birth.
Tommy Tuberville
Senator
AL
The "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025" amends Title IX to prohibit schools receiving federal funding from allowing individuals born male to participate in female athletic programs. Sex is defined as determined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This bill aims to ensure fair competition for women and girls in sports.
New Bill Defines 'Sex' Based on Birth Biology, Potentially Banning Trans Girls from Women's Sports
The "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025" changes the rules for school sports across the country. This bill amends Title IX, the law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education, by making a very specific definition of 'sex.' Under this new law, "sex" means the biological sex assigned at birth, based on reproductive organs and genetics. What does that actually mean? It's a direct shot at who can play on women's and girls' sports teams.
Playing by New Rules
The core change is right here: if a school gets any federal money (and most do), they're breaking the law if they let someone assigned male at birth participate in a women's or girls' athletic program (SEC. 2). No exceptions mentioned, no wiggle room – it's a flat-out ban. This impacts every level, from elementary school kickball to college athletics. Think of a high school track star who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a girl. Under this law, she's off the team. Period.
The Real-World Impact
This isn't just about trophies. It's about who gets to be part of a team, who gets access to scholarships, and who gets to experience the benefits of sports. For transgender girls and women, this law could mean being excluded from activities that are crucial for their social and physical development. Imagine being told you can't play with your friends, not because you're not good enough, but because of who you are. Beyond the playing field, this bill could create a really hostile environment for transgender students, potentially leading to more bullying and discrimination, not less.
The Bigger Picture – and Potential Problems
This bill is amending Title IX, a landmark law designed to prevent sex discrimination. The tricky part? This redefinition of "sex" could open the door to a flood of lawsuits. Legal challenges are almost guaranteed, arguing this violates equal protection rights. And it's not just about legal battles. There's the very real, very practical issue of how schools would even enforce this. Are schools going to start demanding medical records or some kind of "proof" of sex? It gets messy, and potentially invasive, fast. This bill directly clashes with the idea of inclusion and could have long-term impacts on the mental and physical well-being of transgender youth.