Prominent women's groups have remained silent on the Biden administration's plan to prevent states from banning transgender students from competing in sports, according to Fox News.
The proposed Title IX rules would expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity, preventing any school or college that receives federal funding from imposing a policy that categorically bans transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act passed in the House with a vote of 219-203 on straight party lines, with Republicans defending the bill as a means of sparing women and girls from competing against transgender women and girls who are biological males that can sometimes dominate these sports and prevent female athletes from making the team.
However, Democrats accused Republicans of "bullying" transgender students by calling up the bill. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stated that he supports allowing biological male transgender people to compete in women's sports.
During his confirmation hearing, Cardona said that it is "critically important" that educators and school systems "respect the rights of all students, including students who are transgender," and that all students should be able to participate in activities. This statement has led to debate over whether transgender women should be permitted to compete in sports against biological women.
The issue has been at the forefront since a former decorated NCAA swimmer at Kentucky, Riley Gaines, was forced to compete against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas last year. Gaines famously tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200 Freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Thomas' situation sparks a national debate over whether transgender women should be permitted to compete in sports against biological women. Gaines' side-eye glare at Thomas became a flashpoint for the polarizing debate, and she has since emerged as a conservative icon for speaking out.
While many groups have remained silent on the issue, the Independent Women's Forum has been at the forefront of the fight to protect women's sports. According to their spokesperson, Adriana McLamb, the group is "fighting for all current and future female athletes to compete on a fair playing field just like our predecessors fought for our right to compete to begin with."
Fox News Digital reached out to several prominent women's groups for comment, including Ultra Violet, Center for Reproductive Rights, Plan International, Women for Women International, Equality Now, Global Fund for Women, Gender at Work, The International Center for Research on Women, Gender Equality Resource Center, Save the Children, Human Rights Watch, and International Women's Development Agency. However, these groups did not respond to the inquiry.
The issue has become highly politicized, with Republicans arguing that transgender women should not be allowed to compete against biological women in sports. In contrast, Democrats say preventing transgender women from participating in sports would be discriminatory.
The proposed Title IX rules seek to balance these two positions by preventing schools from imposing policies that categorically ban transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
It remains to be seen whether the proposed rules will be implemented and how various groups will receive them. However, the debate over whether transgender women should be permitted to compete in sports against biological women is likely to continue, as both sides are deeply entrenched in their positions.
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