The House passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Tuesday with a vote of 218-106, marking the second time in two years that House Republicans have advanced this legislation.
The previous version passed in 2023 but died in the Senate, as Democrats refused to bring it up for a vote. This time around, the vote once again revealed which representatives are willing to take a clear stand on what should be a straightforward issue.
Biological Reality in Sports
For conservatives, the math is simple:
Florence Griffith-Joyner’s unbeaten women’s world record in the 100m wouldn’t even qualify for the men’s Olympics. This isn’t complicated political theory – it’s basic biology and observable reality in sports across America.
The legislation doesn’t come out of nowhere. In recent years, there have been numerous cases across the country where biological differences have affected competition outcomes.
Swimming, track and field, and other sports have seen controversies emerge when transgender athletes compete in women’s divisions. Parents have shared stories about their daughters losing opportunities – from spots on teams to scholarships – when competing against transgender athletes.
Susie Lee’s Contradictions
Yet Representative Susie Lee (D-NV) managed to vote against protecting women’s sports while simultaneously claiming she doesn’t support transgender athletes competing in women’s sports “when fairness or safety is compromised.” This kind of political double-speak is exactly what frustrates voters who see no room for fence-sitting on such a clear-cut issue.
Lee, a former athlete herself, should understand better than most that you can’t have it both ways. Either you support protecting women’s sports based on biological reality, or you don’t.
She criticized the NCAA for being “slow and inconsistent” in updating their policies but maintained that a nationwide ban isn’t the answer. Her attempt to thread the political needle – voting against protections while claiming to support them – demonstrates the kind of political calculation that puts polling ahead of principles.
Championing Fairness
Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, in contrast, spoke directly:
“The passage of H.R. 28 is a declaration that the achievements and opportunities our daughters, sisters, and future champions have earned will not be compromised.”
No qualifiers, no hedging, just a clear statement supporting fair competition. Schools that don’t follow this rule could lose their federal funding.
After narrowly losing to the incumbent in November, Republican Drew Johnson took to social media to sharply criticize Lee.
Johnson wrote:
“I may’ve lost to this liar, but I won’t stop fighting to protect women’s sports. My amazing wife Sarah recently helped create a state task force to protect female athletes in NV and I’ll continue to work with heroes like @Riley_Gaines_ & @linneasaltz to preserve women’s spaces.”
I may’ve lost to this liar, but I won’t stop fighting to protect women’s sports. My amazing wife Sarah recently helped create a state task force to protect female athletes in NV and I’ll continue to work with heroes like @Riley_Gaines_ & @linneasaltz to preserve women’s spaces. https://t.co/i1EBMt7pE3
— Drew Johnson (@DrewForNevada) January 16, 2025
Political Gymnastics
Critics of the bill like Nevada Democrats Dina Titus and Steven Horsford have resorted to extreme scenarios about “invasive examinations,” a transparent attempt to distract from the fundamental issue. Horsford went so far as to call it the “predator empowerment act” in a video posted on X, arguing that girls as young as 4 years old could face physical inspections.
The reality is that for fifty years, Title IX has created opportunities for women in sports based on the simple recognition of biological differences. Those differences haven’t changed just because politics has.
For conservative voters watching this unfold, the issue remains crystal clear: either you support protecting women’s sports based on biological reality, or you don’t. There’s no middle ground to find, no complex nuance to explore, and no reason for representatives to try having it both ways.
The bill faces challenges in the Senate, where more political gymnastics are likely to follow. Voters will be watching to see which politicians are willing to take a clear stand and which will try to hide behind carefully crafted statements that attempt to please everyone while solving nothing.
For voters who understand the simple reality of biological differences in sports, the time for political double-speak is over.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
