US Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island spoke out in strong opposition to H.R. 734, a House Republican bill that would actively discriminate against trans women and girls by blocking their participation in school sports and undermining all students’ civil rights. The GOP House majority passed the bill on April 20.
According to Gay City News:
The so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, or H.R. 734, bars trans girls and women from playing on sports in accordance with their gender identity by amending Title IX to stipulate that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The legislative effort is being led by Republican Greg Steube, who represents Florida’s west coast region of Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. Lawmakers voted along party lines to approve the bill 219-203.
“This ban does nothing to address real threats to women’s sports, including lack of equal resources, pay inequality, and sexual harassment,” reads a statement from Cicilline’s office, which shared a transcript of his remarks on the House floor before the vote:
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill, which should be entitled “Banning Kids from School Sports Act.”
No group of kids should be banned from school sports, period. We all know what school sports are about – it’s about teamwork, determination, physical wellbeing. The federal government doesn’t belong in our classrooms, in the locker rooms of these kids, or between these children and their parents.
There’s this creepy idea; I guess this bill is going to require genital inspections of children. I mean, this is outrageous. There was an invocation of some liturgy just a few moments ago saying, children are the creations of God. All children are the creations of God. It’s not up to you to decide which children don’t belong. These are all God’s children.
And don’t accept this phony claim that this is about the safety of kids. In fact, we know otherwise. A very conservative advocacy group that came up with this idea, the President said, “we knew we needed to find an issue that the candidates were comfortable talking about, and we threw everything at the wall.” And they came up with this campaign against trans kids, a sinister political operation to use these kids to advance their success in politics. It’s wrong.
All kids belong playing in sports. To play with their friends. To enjoy their childhood. There are more than 450 anti-trans bills being introduced all across this country. It’s terrible.
These children matter. We see them, we value them, and we have to respect them. And, actually, trans kids belong and deserve to participate in every other school activity. And if you really care about the wellbeing of kids, let me remind you, the leading cause of death in this country is gun violence. And yet, our Republican colleagues will not do anything to protect children from being slaughtered in their schools. The leading cause of death in this country. And instead, we’re going to spend time debating a bill to insert the federal government into elementary schools and middle schools to prevent all children from participating in sports.
What a terrible idea. Shame on you. This is a disgrace. Vote no on this hideous piece of legislation.
— remarks from a press release from the office of US Congressman David N. Ciciline
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
