Texas nears approval of ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ prohibiting transgender athletes in college sports.

Texas Legislature Set to Ban Biological Males from Women’s Collegiate Sports

The Texas legislature, led by Republicans, is on the brink of passing a bill that would prohibit biological males who identify as female from participating in women’s collegiate sports. The “Save Women’s Sports Act,” also known as Senate Bill 15, passed a second reading and vote on May 17, despite multiple attempts by Democrats to weaken or scuttle it.

What the Bill Entails

If passed into law, Texas would join a growing number of red states that prohibit transgender athletes from competing on teams that don’t align with their sex at birth. The bill would also allow women to compete against men in sports if a corresponding women’s team is not offered or available.

According to the bill, universities, colleges, or intercollegiate athletic teams that violate the bill could face civil injunctive orders. Institutions of higher education or intercollegiate athletic teams may not retaliate against a person for reporting a violation of the bill.

The Debate

Democrats fought the bill, claiming it discriminates against males identifying as female who want to compete in women’s sports. During the House debate, they claimed it was an answer looking for a problem because no trans athletes were competing on the collegiate level in Texas.

However, Republican Rep. Valoree Swanson, who presented the bill, argued that males are biologically different and have a physiological advantage when competing against females. Females have lost sports titles to biological males competing against them, she said.

Swanson recounted a case where a female high school volleyball player suffered a severe injury in the fall of 2022 after a biological male spiked the ball at her. The male competing on the girl’s high school volleyball team hit the “volleyball so hard on the girl’s shorter net that it knocked Peyton McNabb out,” she said. McNabb testified last month before North Carolina lawmakers that she suffered a concussion and neck injury. She urged them to pass a ban similar to the Texas bill.

The Future of the Bill

A third vote on the bill is expected the next day before it returns to the Senate for approval and then to the governor. The piece of legislation is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priorities this session, and Gov. Greg Abbott has indicated he would sign the bill into law.

• Republicans in Texas are pushing for a bill that would ban biological males from competing in women’s collegiate sports.
• The “Save Women’s Sports Act,” also known as Senate Bill 15, passed a second reading and vote on May 17.
• If passed into law, Texas would join a growing number of red states that prohibit transgender athletes from competing on teams that don’t align with their sex at birth.
• Democrats fought the bill, claiming it discriminates against males identifying as female who want to compete in women’s sports.
• Republican Rep. Valoree Swanson, who presented the bill, argued that males are biologically different and have a physiological advantage when competing against females.

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