Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler has submitted a bill attempting to rewrite civil rights law to bar transgender students from participating in school sports aligning with their gender identity.
The Republican’s amendment to Title IX, a law passed in 1972 protecting people from sex-based discrimination in education programs, seeks to define sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” for the purpose of barring transgender people from taking part in sports teams aligned with their gender identity.
The amendment, submitted in the US Senate on Tuesday (September 22), states that any recipient of federal funds “who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities…[must not] permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”
However, there is no language specifying the same for transgender boys participating in boys sports.
“Title IX established a fair and equal chance for women and girls to compete, and sports should be no exception,” Loeffler said in a statement. “As someone who learned invaluable life lessons and built confidence playing sports throughout my life, I’m proud to lead this legislation to ensure girls of all ages can enjoy those same opportunities.”
This proposal comes after the Trump administration was accused of “effectively extorting” Connecticut school by threatening to pull $18 million in desegregation funding over trans-inclusive athletic policies.