Washington, D.C. – Delaware’s Democratic Senators, Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt, joined their party colleagues in a unified vote on Monday evening to block a Republican-led bill that would have prohibited transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at federally funded schools.
The legislation, titled the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” was defeated in a 51-45 party-line vote in the U.S. Senate, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Introduced by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), the bill aimed to amend Title IX—a federal law ensuring equal opportunities in education based on sex—to define “sex” solely by “reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
This would effectively bar transgender girls and women from competing in female sports programs at schools receiving federal funding. The proposal mirrored an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on February 5, 2025, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which similarly sought to restrict transgender participation in female athletics.
The vote underscored a deep partisan divide on the issue. Republicans argued that the bill was necessary to protect the integrity and fairness of women’s sports, citing concerns over potential physical advantages transgender athletes might have. Tuberville, a former college football coach, condemned the outcome, stating on X,
“This is far from over. I’ll NEVER stop fighting to protect women and girls.” Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Title IX was intended to ensure opportunities for girls in sports, calling the issue a matter of “fairness and safety.”
Democrats, including Delaware’s Coons and Carper, countered that the legislation was a politically motivated overreach that unfairly targeted a vulnerable group.
enator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) described the affected athletes as “schoolchildren who deserve an ally,” arguing that such measures distract from more pressing national concerns.
Critics of the bill, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warned that it could lead to invasive enforcement practices and further stigmatize transgender youth.
“We need to focus on equal opportunity for all girls and women, not bullying kids for political gain,” said ACLU National Director of Policy Mike Zamore.
