HF12, a bill to protect girls' sports in Minnesota for female athletes, was voted upon by the House of Representatives on March 3. All the House Republicans voted for the bill, but unfortunately, all the House Democrats voted against the bill. Many House Democrats stated that this bill is irrelevant. A couple representatives implied in floor statements that issues such as high egg prices are more important to resolve than protecting girls from discrimination and physical danger when they are forced to play against male athletes who claim to be girls. Some even went so far as to insinuate that protecting girls' safety, rights, and athletic opportunities is equivalent to "bullying."
In a recent poll by the New York Times and Ipsos, 79% of Americans support preserving female athletics for female athletes. Minnesota House Democrats stood united against preserving athletic opportunities for Minnesota girls, disregarding the reality that physical differences exist between the sexes and the real threats that girls in our state face.
The House requires 68 votes, a majority of the body, to pass legislation from the House of Representatives. With only 67 Republicans and 66 Democrats currently serving in the Minnesota House, the bill failed to pass and was laid on the table for further discussion in the future.
As our allied legislators made clear, HF12 is a commonsense bill that ensures that girls' sports remain fair and competitive. You can see how each legislator voted in the Journal and here. Please consider reaching out to your State Representative to share your appreciation or concern regarding their vote! You can look up who represents you at this link: Who Represents Me? Your voice matters, and every girl in Minnesota deserves to play sports on a fair and level playing field.
