Jan 20, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY/AP) — Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans was part of a majority of members of the House of Representatives who recently voted to ban transgender students from taking part on women's sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The bill passed 218-206, with two Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the legislation, while one person, Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), voting present. Kiggans termed the bill as one that would protect fair competition in women's sports. “As a former coach and athlete who is the mother of two active girls, saving women’s sports is personal to me,” Kiggans said in a statement. “I was proud to vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act today to ensure female athletes can fairly compete in sports, giving them the protections and recognition they deserve. This important legislation is a huge win for women, and I am glad to see common sense prevail. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to stand up for women and quickly pass this bill so it can become law.” Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott voted against the legislation, saying the bill "prioritizes culture wars over student welfare," and said fewer than 10 people out of more 500,000 college athletes taking part in NCAA sports are transgender. Scott said the bill does anything but protect women and girls. "Despite this bill's name, H.R. 28 would actually make school sports less safe for women and girls," Scott said. "What this bill should be called is the 'Child Predator Empowerment Act.' This will would require girls as young as four to face humiliating physical inspections of their private parts by adult strangers. Furthermore, the bill does not clarify who would be responsible for 'inspecting' the girls' private parts." President Donald Trump, shortly after his inauguration Monday, signed an executive order that rolls back protections for people who are transgender, saying the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes — male and female. Conservative groups like the American Family Association have come out in support of the change, saying it acknowledges the truth, but the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association say gender is a spectrum and not a binary structure made up of only males and females. Trump's order says federal prisons and shelters for migrants and rape victims have to be segregated by sex as defined in the order. Kiggans, in the Virginia state Senate's 2022 session, introduced a measure that would have put into place sex-based protections into Virginia law. You can find the full bill text here. BILLS-119hr28ehDownload
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