VIDEO: Hirono Blocks GOP Attempt to Advance Anti-Transgender Legislation on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) blocked Republicans from advancing the anti-transgender Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation to ban transgender women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender.

“If my Republican colleagues were actually worried about women and girls in athletics, they would join in our efforts to address unequal athletic opportunities in school, unequal pay, sexual abuse and harassment, and more,” said Senator Hirono. “But this isn’t about supporting women and girls, this is about power and control.”

In her remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Hirono disputed the false, detrimental claim that allowing trans women and girls to play sports is harmful to cisgender women and girls, and highlighted the ways in which this legislation would harm all women and girls. 

“My Republican colleagues falsely claim that allowing transgender women and girls to play sports is harmful to cisgender women and girls,” continued Senator Hirono. “They continue to hurl insulting lies about transgender girls dominating sports. But what is true, is that these bans are deeply harmful to transgender girls—particularly transgender girls of color—girls who are gender nonconforming, and cisgender girls as well.”

She also paid homage to the late Rep. Patsy Mink, the author of Title IX.

“As someone who knew, and was friends with, Patsy Mink—the author of Title IX—I can tell you she would be standing right next to me to say that Title IX in no way or shape supports what my colleague is attempting to do,” Senator Hirono said. “Patsy spent her entire life fighting to advance equal opportunity for women and girls. It would pain her to know that the bill she fought so hard to make law is being twisted by Republicans to discriminate against the very people it was designed to protect.

A full transcript of Senator Hirono’s remarks is below and a link to download video is available here.

M. President, reserving the right to object, I rise today in opposition to S. 613—legislation that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender. My Republican colleagues falsely claim that allowing transgender women and girls to play sports is harmful to cisgender women and girls.

They continue to hurl insulting lies about transgender girls dominating sports. But what is true, is that these bans are deeply harmful to transgender girls—particularly transgender girls of color—girls who are gender nonconforming, and cisgender girls as well. These “sex tests” invade every girls’ privacy and open the door to harassment for anyone who is perceived as “different.”

If my Republican colleagues were actually worried about women and girls in athletics, they would join in our efforts to address unequal athletic opportunities in school, unequal pay, sexual abuse and harassment, and more. But this isn’t about supporting women and girls, this is about power and control.

My Republican colleagues are obsessed with controlling women’s bodies and our lives, as we are seeing yet again today. But instead of being honest about what they’re doing, many on the other side claim that this bill is somehow a defense of Title IX—that couldn’t be further from the truth. Title IX says, and I quote, “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

As someone who knew, and was friends with, Patsy Mink—the author of Title IX—I can tell you she would be standing right next to me to say that Title IX in no way or shape supports what my colleague is attempting to do. Patsy spent her entire life fighting to advance equal opportunity for women and girls. It would pain her to know that the bill she fought so hard to make law is being twisted by Republicans to discriminate against the very people it was designed to protect.

Republicans have the wrong priorities. We shouldn’t be banning anyone from playing sports. We should be fighting the discrimination that all women and girls—trans, cis, or otherwise—continue to face in athletics, in the classroom, and in the workplace.

For these reasons, I object.

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