House votes to keep transgender women out of women's sports

SAN JOSE, Calif. - On Tuesday, the House passed a bill that may change Title IX and guarantee that only people assigned female when they were born can play girls' or women’s sports.

Last week, a federal judge ruled against expanding protections that would benefit the transgender community under Title IX. The Biden Administration changed the rules last year and now the House is a step closer to rolling back those changes.

"It was created to protect women and so, we need to make sure we stay on that track," said Sophia Lorey, Outreach Director for California Family Council. 

Changes to landmark law Title IX could soon be on the way. On Tuesday, the House passed the "Protection of Women and Girls Act" by a vote of 218 to 206. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs. 

California Family Council is a Christian-based, family values advocacy group.

"We do need the federal government to also put in these bills and put in legislation that protects girls’ sports because it’s an up-hill battle in California," said Lorey. 

Last year, controversy erupted over a transgender woman being allowed to play on the San Jose State Women’s volleyball team. Her teammate also joined a class action lawsuit that would prohibit trans women from playing women’s sports.

"For some reason, people think that trans women and intersex people have an advantage in sport. In fact, there is no evidence for that," said Gabrielle Antolovich, Board President of San Jose's Billy De Frank LGBTQ Center. 

Still, a new California bill introduced by Republican Assembly member Kate Sanchez aims to keep transgender girls from playing high school sports. 

"I am hoping that our Governor and other legislators have the ability to block that. Whether it’s local elected officials that could block it in their own city or county, that is a very important part of the movement. We can’t fight this fight alone," said Antolovich. 

Assemblymember Sanchez told KTUV that with her bill proposal, she’s committed to restoring integrity to girls’ sports in California. The "Protection of Women and Girls Act" still needs to pass the Senate before being signed into law.