Fetterman says he’s ‘ally’ of trans athletes after vote on Senate bill – Washington Examiner
On March 4, 2025, the Senate voted on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a piece of legislation aimed at banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The bill failed to secure the 60 votes needed to bypass a filibuster, with a party-line vote resulting in 51 Republicans supporting the measure and 46 Democrats opposing it.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, voiced his opposition to the bill, declaring himself an ally of transgender athletes. He criticized the legislation as cruel, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach that considers the dignity of all athletes, especially trans youth. Fetterman argued that the debate had depersonalized these young individuals, reducing them to mere political talking points.
The bill had significant support from Republicans, particularly Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who mentioned that this was the third attempt to pass similar legislation due to minimal democratic backing.Despite the bill’s defeat, there is ongoing discussion around the issue, and a recent executive order from former President Trump aimed to formally establish policy against transgender participation in women’s sports.
Fetterman’s response to the failed legislation aligns with his broader political stance, although it also highlights the tension within the Democratic Party regarding gender identity and sports competition.
Fetterman says he’s ‘ally’ of trans athletes after vote on Senate bill
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) declared himself an ally to trans athletes on Monday after a vote in the Senate on proposed legislation that would prevent men from competing in women’s sports.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act failed to obtain more than the 60 votes necessary to avoid a Senate filibuster.
“To provide that for purposes of determining compliance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” read the legislation.
It was defeated in a party-line vote, with 51 Republicans voting to support it and 46 Democrats voting against it. Fetterman voted against the bill and criticized the measure in a social media post on Monday evening. He said that trans athletes deserved “an ally” and that he was one.
“The small handful of trans athletes in PA in a political maelstrom deserve an ally and I am one,” Fetterman posted. “Depersonalized as ‘they/them’ in a political ad, but are just schoolchildren.”
The senator from Pennsylvania referred to legislative action and criticism of males participating in female sports as cruel and not a “dignified solution.”
“Empty show votes or cruelty on social media aren’t part of a thoughtful, dignified solution,” Fetterman added.
Of particular note, however, was that Fetterman did not provide any commentary, on social media or otherwise, about female schoolchildren who would be forced to compete against male athletes, despite claims to the contrary when citing gender identity.
The bill was particularly important to Fetterman’s senate colleague, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). He introduced Monday’s legislation with 39 other co-sponsors. Before the vote, he commented on the bill’s history and the challenges of getting it passed because of the lack of Democratic support.
“This is the third time that I’ve had a vote on this bill,” Tuberville said. “The other two times have failed because we have had almost zero Democrats help to support women and girls in sports.”
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Meanwhile, Fetterman’s comments and vote on the bill reinforce his commitment to issues and values that align with his left-wing politics. Previously, it was suggested that Fetterman might be straying away from his political party’s beliefs given his comments regarding Hamas, co-sponsoring and voting for the Laken Riley Act, and meeting President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Despite the setback in the Senate, there is hope that the spirit of the bill and the declarations made in the legislation would still be implemented nationwide. In February, Trump issued the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, which made the official policy of the U.S. “to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.”
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