Human Rights
Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s New Bill Could Require Genital Exams For Girls In School Sports
Georgia Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler is desperately trying to hang onto her seat as a special election looms, and she’s doing this by introducing a measure that’s a clear violation of a transgender person’s right to privacy and bodily autonomy. Dubbed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, the measure would bar transgender girls from competing with girls of their gender in school sports, LGBTQ Nation reports.
As noted by Trudy Ring, writing for The Advocate, the measure would “make it a violation of U.S. law for any school that receives federal education to allow a trans girl or woman — or as Loeffler’s press release puts it, “a biological male” — to participate in women’s sports.”
It’s anyone’s guess as to why Loeffler thinks transgender women and girls are a threat to anyone, except her fellow right-wingers who are hell-bent on restricting the rights of anyone who don’t look or act like them — boring, white, conservative Christians who are damaged goods in the brain department. Don’t get me wrong; there are still plenty of conservative Christians who aren’t like those trying to cause such harm, but Loeffler and the four other archly conservative Republicans who are also backing this bill aren’t among them.
When she introduced the measure on the floor of the Senate, Loeffler said that it “protects [cisgender] women and girls,” from, I’m guessing, trans women and girls.
Language in the bill asserts that allowing transgender girls and women to compete with their gender in school sports is a violation of the Title IX ban on sex-based discrimination in schools. The Trump administration is already using this as the legal theory to threaten to defund school districts of millions of dollars. Under the auspices of this bill, which for some reason says nothing about transgender boys and men, school districts that support the rights of transgender girls may very well lose crucial federal funding.
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Other ultra-conservative Republican senators co-sponsoring the bill are Mike Lee (Utah), Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee), James Lankford (Oklahoma), and Tom Cotton (Arkansas).
Idaho passed similar legislation earlier this year, legislation that’s being sharply criticized because it allows people to openly challenge a student athlete’s gender, even to the point of possibly forcing a woman or girl to undergo DNA testing or genital exams.
If that’s not a violation of someone’s bodily autonomy then I don’t know what is.
Loeffler’s legislation doesn’t specifically state how schools will determine an athlete’s gender, but here’s the worrisome part: It defines chromosomes and reproductive organs as potential criteria, meaning it may follow in Idaho’s footsteps meaning that such examinations will be used. Equally worrisome is the fact that the bill quotes designated hate groups like the Family Research Council. That alone should raise deep concerns among anyone who supports transgender people
Loeffler and two other U.S. senators — Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.) found themselves in hot water after allegedly dumping stocks at the beginning of the pandemic but that investigation wound up being shuttered by the Justice Department, Vanity Fair notes. Each of the senators claims financial advisors made this move without their knowledge but it makes me question Loeffler as a person.
And after she proudly announced her new bill on Twitter, the Twitterati responded with stiletto-like precision. It really couldn’t happen to a nicer right-wing transphobe.
Proud to lead this effort in defense of women & girls.
Title IX established a fair chance for girls of all ages to compete—Sports should be no exception.@SenMikeLee @MarshaBlackburn @SenatorLankford @SenTomCotton & I are ensuring a level playing field. https://t.co/stG06XTW52
— Senator Kelly Loeffler (@SenatorLoeffler) September 22, 2020
Why don’t you stick to insider trading?
— TeeBee (@pet_loverva) September 24, 2020
As a gynecologist, I would actually really like a response from the authors and supporters of this bill.
— Amy Lasky, MD (@AmyLaskyMD) September 24, 2020
I don't want any kind of "defense"that would force genital exams to determine if I can compete in a sport. This is monstrous.
— AJ (@Quiddity42) September 24, 2020
As a friend of mine said, why are conservatives so obsessed with genitals? And this is only for girls, I’m appalled! And I know there are a million other things the GOP should be focusing their energy on right now! This is gross!
— The Pet Mom (@savetheearth25) September 24, 2020
Moving on from insider trading I see
— Gus Martinez (@GusMartinez15) September 24, 2020
This is one of the sickest things I’ve ever heard during this joke of presidency. No one should have the right to examine children for any reason except their own physician with parental consent & protection. It’s hatred for what you don’t understand!
— Teri Hendricks (@tehndrc) September 24, 2020
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