WASHINGTON — The U.S. House has passed a bill that would prohibit federal funding from flowing to schools unless they ban transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports.
Two Democrats, neither from Georgia, voted with Republicans in favor of the legislation. Georgia’s delegation fell along party lines, with all nine Republicans in support and all five Democrats opposed.
U.S. Reps. Rick Allen, R-Augusta, and Buddy Carter, R-St. Simons Island, were among the Republicans who lined up during debate to back the proposal. Carter said the legislation falls in line with public sentiment that people born male should not compete in female sports.
“As a grandfather to six wonderful, capable granddaughters, this is important to me,” Carter said. “This bill would safeguard and uphold the integrity and safety of women’s sports and the true intention of Title IX by allowing all women the opportunity to achieve excellence in sports.”
Democrats said the bill unfairly targeted transgender women and girls, infringing on their rights through fearmongering and bullying. After the vote, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath said she opposed the legislation because it requires the federal government to interfere with decisions families have made about their children.
“I’m really concerned about what this opens up for our young people,” the Marietta Democrat said. “I’m concerned about who’s going to be doing all of the checking and who’s going to be doing all of the observing. And I just think these are really going to be problematic questions for families, and we need to just protect our children as much as we can.”
A similar bill is pending in the Senate, but no vote has been scheduled.
Discussions on transgender girls competing in sports is happening not just in Congress but at the local level in states, including Georgia.
The first bill introduced when the Georgia Senate kicked off its legislative session Monday would ban transgender girls and women from competing in sports at public middle schools, high schools and college student-athletes. The proposal would require transgender girls and women use changing rooms and restrooms that adhere to the gender on their birth certificate. Out-of-state and private institutions would be required to abide by these same rules when they compete against public schools and colleges.
HOW GEORGIA’S DELEGATION VOTED on the transgender sports ban, HR 28
“Yes”
U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Augusta
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-St. Simons Island
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome
U.S. Rep. Brian Jack, R-Peachtree City
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville
U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Suwanee
U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton
“No”
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta
U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta
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