The Minnesota House of Representatives is set to vote Monday on a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing on girls sports teams.
The proposal passed recently on a party-line vote in the GOP-controlled House Education Policy Committee. While it’s unlikely to become law, GOP lawmakers say the measure is needed to prevent trans athletes from gaining an unfair advantage in women’s sports.
The bill comes as state and federal authorities wrangle over Minnesota’s position on the matter.
The Minnesota High School League has allowed students to participate on teams that best align with their gender identity for 10 years. A recent executive order by President Donald Trump banned transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls sports.
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Federal officials are pressuring the state to comply with Trump’s executive order. That includes investigating the high school league policy.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says Minnesota human rights law lets transgender athletes compete in sports consistent with their gender identity and that the state law supersedes Trump’s executive order.
The House GOP bill mirrors Trump’s order. It would bar student athletes from competing on women and girls school athletic teams unless they have “a reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.”
Bill sponsor Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, has said the legislation is “about preserving girls sports for females.”
Trans athletes and coaches, LGBTQ+ advocates and DFL lawmakers said the bill would discriminate against trans women and girls and could pose problems with enforcement.
Rep. Heather Keeler, DFL-Moorhead, said she was concerned the bill would lead to spectators at children’s sporting events demanding students be removed based on their appearances.
“Some kids are taller than other kids. Some kids are just bigger than other kids,” she said. “What I’m worried about is the bullying impact that this will have.”
DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park said no DFLer would vote for the bill, so it would not make it off the floor. The current makeup of the House is 67 Republicans and 66 DFLers, and 68 votes are needed to pass legislation.
She dismissed the GOP effort as a “waste of time. They know it’s not going to pass,” adding that it could sour work on other legislative issues.
Supporters, opponents rally ahead of the vote
Republicans held a rally Monday with swimmer and activist Riley Gaines ahead of the floor vote.
“Minnesota, for too long, has turned its back on women and girls,” Gaines told those gathered. “The concept of gender identity and the reality of sex are in direct conflict with each other. You cannot protect the rights of girls to play fair and safe sport and also protect the boy who wants to take their place on the team.”
LGBTQ+ advocates also came together in opposition to the bill.
Beth Grommesh of St. Louis Park has a son who transitioned in middle school and identifies with he/they pronouns. They were able to participate in Ultimate Frisbee in high school and the experience helped them feel more like themselves and build a sense of community.
“That’s what we should be doing, is allowing kids to play,” Grommesh said. “Now, they would not describe themselves as an athlete, but they were still on the team, and they loved it, and they chose that team, they chose the boys team, and they were able to have a sense of community and belonging, and it was affirming to them.
Regardless of the outcome of the House vote Monday, the DFL-led Minnesota Senate is unlikely to bring the GOP bill up for a vote. It could become part of later conversations on education spending and policy proposals.
The Senate on Monday afternoon voted 34-33 to turn back a GOP attempt to dislodge the bill from a committee.
Senate Education Committee Chair Steve Cwodzinski, DFL-Eden Prairie, told members he had no plans to hold a hearing in his panel this year. The proposal could emerge as a floor amendment when other education proposals are brought up for consideration.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.