Oregon Republicans Lose Battle to Ban Trans Athletes from Girls Sports in Contentious House Vote

Oregon Republicans failed to collect enough support to ban transgenders from participating in girls school sports events, saying they should not have to compete against male-born opponents.

House Bill Also Called for Segregated Locker Rooms and Bathrooms

This contentious subject erupted in the House on Thursday when Republican lawmakers failed to force a vote on House Bill 2037, calling on state schools to segregate sports, locker rooms, and bathrooms according to sex registered at birth.

The bill would also have allowed students and their families to sue for damages if the rules are violated.

The bill failed when lawmakers voted along party-line with 22 Republicans for banning transgenders from participating in girls sports events to 32 Democrats who voted against the proposal.

There were several heated exchanges between opposing politicians as House Bill 2037 teetered on the brink of defeat. In the hope of drumming up support, Republicans brought girls to the meeting to discuss their experiences with transgender females in school sports.

However, Democrats stood firm, fiercely defending the rights of transgenders, despite 26 states passing legislation banning transgender women from taking part in women’s sporting events.