Republican members of the U.S. Senate have come out with a bold “11-point plan to Rescue America” if voters put them back in charge of Congress again. In the ninth part of the document, released Tuesday, they pledge to keep men out of women’s sports and women’s locker room facilities.
Florida Senator Rick Scott, 2022 chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said, “Facts are facts, the earth is round, the sun is hot, there are two genders … To say otherwise is to deny science.”
The portion of the Rescue America plan devoted to transgenderism states:
“No doctor will be allowed to perform irreversible surgical or gender-altering procedures on any minor child. Once they become adults, they can do what they wish. We will protect women’s sports by banning biological males from competing. It is hugely unfair and would erase many of the gains women have made in athletics over the last 50 years.”
In addition, the Republicans would prohibit federal government forms from using language about “gender identity” or “sexual preference.” Currently, males can claim to be female, make efforts to reduce their testosterone and they’re allowed to compete on female teams.
The issue of men imposing their physical superiority on women’s sports has risen significantly in recent years. For the first time, the 2021 Summer Olympics included a male weightlifter in the female competition. Will “Lia” Thomas has commanded a great deal of public outrage (including from his own teammates) by dominating Pennsylvania University’s -- and the Ivy League’s -- women’s swimming competition. The playing field in women’s sports has tilted away from females, denying them of fairness and opportunity.
The American Principles Project praised what the GOP senators are promising to do. Terry Schilling, the group’s president, said, “This is exactly the type of platform GOP candidates should be running on this year.”
Public opinion shows that Americans disapprove of the transgender movement. LGBT activists’ demands for government support for irreversible surgery and hormone treatment for children are also unpopular. Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender male, complains on Fox News that Thomas and other males have unfair advantages over women.
Referring specifically to Thomas, former President Donald Trump also made a campaign pledge at a Texas rally, saying, “We will ban men from participating in women’s sports.”
Sen. Scott told Neil Munro, of Breitbart News, “You’ve got to treat kids as kids. Men shouldn’t be taking over women’s sports … we’re going to kill women’s sports. They’re going to stop winning, just look at the NCAA championship swimming.” Thomas is going to be allowed to compete in the NCAA national competition next month.
“I do believe we ought to be careful about these gender-altering procedures on a child … This is science,” Scott said.
Some Republicans are squishy on the transgender issue. Republican National Committee Ronna McDaniel endorsed the campaign platform, but did not address transgender language.
Though most Republicans support protecting the integrity of women’s sports, more than a dozen support legislation favorable to transgenders.
Schilling said, “It’s clear that Republicans are finally seeing the political advantage of highlighting Democrat extremism on this issue.” However, the real question is if they will follow through when, and if, they regain power in Congress.
