The participation of a female sports team in Minnesota is not limited to the female sex. It won’t be any soon.
With the supporters of Bill and the opponents who look forward to outside the house room and the emotional discussion inside, HF12 could not cross the finish line on Monday.
Sponsored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), the “Preserving Girls’ Sports Act” stipulates: “Only students can participate in a sports team or a sport of elementary or secondary level that a teaching establishment has limited to women and girls.”
According to the bill, “” means a woman as biologically determined by genetics and defined in relation to the reproductive system of an individual. »»
Need 68 votes to the Chamber for adoption, the bill could only obtain results from the party line with 67 affirmative votes but 66 negative votes. It was then reconsidered and deposited in a pair of procedural movements.
The demonstrators meet outside the house of the house before the March 3 session where the members considered HF12 This would restrict the participation of the sports team at the primary or secondary level of women to organic women. (Photo of Michele Jokinen)“We cannot allow our daughters to be vulnerable to lose their place in the team, to be on the podium or to hurt by a teammate or a male competitor,” said Scott. “It’s not sure and it’s not just for our daughters.”
Supporters, many of whom participated in a midday rally on the steps of the Capitol, argue that the biological differences between the sexes can finally lead to better results for a person born male and an increased injury for a woman; Team spots are taken by a non -biological woman; And the locker room being a place where girls should feel protected.
“We have women and girls around the world who are so afraid of competing with organic men that they abandon sport,” said Marion Rarick representative (R-Maple Lake), citing a United Nations report in 2024 on violence against women and girls.
Opponents say that the bill would authorize trans discrimination and prey abuses. The members of Minnesota Queer legislators called him “political theater” during a press conference at noon.
“All children deserve to play,” said Representative Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake), the Caucus chair. “We will not be complacent with this hateful and dangerous anti-trans-transal rhetoric.”
(MORE: Look at the press conference))
“I can assure you that our children will not stop being transgender simply because you try to withdraw from the sport,” added Rep. LIIH KOZLOWSKI (DFL-Duluth), which calls for the proposal “a bill to intimidate trans girls and non-binary children”.
Rep. Peggy Scott Speak to the Save Girls’ Sports Rally on the Capitol steps on March 3. Scott sponsors HF12A bill to restrict certain participation in sports teams to organic women. (Photo of Michele Jokinen)
Representative Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) argued that the bill is strengthening and already strengthening the laws of Minnesota books.
“We already have a robust language that protects the biologically separate sports teams,” she said. “Trans children can always play sports. We do not prevent them from playing sports. We say that we simply respect the law where we have organic sports teams. »»
Representing Leigh Finke (DFL-S. Paul) said that the problem of trans athletes is manufactured and does not exist in the United States. “Minnesota has been inclusive for 10 years. We had no problem. But we do this for political reasons. And when you lie on a community long enough, people will believe it. »»
Faced with the federal ban
A February 5 presidential decree Prohibited transgender girls and women of competition in the sports of girls and women on a national level. The Minnesota State High School League has announced that it would continue to let the transgender athletes participate in the sports of girls, arguing that their eligibility is determined by the law of the state, the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Constitution of the State. Attorney General Keith Ellison agreed with the MSHSL, releasing a statement February 20, declaring that the presidential order is in violation of the Human Rights Act of Minnesota.
In a Letter of February 25The American prosecutor Pam Bondi warned against the consequences if the state does not comply with the federal order.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wurefhphieyHouse floor session 3/3/25
“The civil rights office of the Ministry of Education began an investigation into title IX on the Minnesota State High School League. If the Ministry of Education’s survey shows that the relevant entities of Minnesota refuse girls an equal opportunity to participate in sporting and sports events by forcing them to compete with boys, the Ministry of Justice is ready to take all appropriate measures to enforce federal law. »»
“When we legislate exclusion, we send a cruel and dangerous message to some of our most vulnerable students,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope). “Let them not belong. That their identities are not real and that their rights are in a way to debate. »»
Representative Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) said: “This bill concerns equity, security and preservation of girls sports in Minnesota.”
An amendment offered by Representative Sydney Jordan (DFL-MPLS) did not obtain approval. He would have Authorization of sports participation Based on the genre identity of a student “in an environment without discrimination with equal opportunities for participation in athletics”.