North Dakota Defies Biden, Passes Bill to Block Transgenders from Female Sports
HB 1298 passes the state’s lower chamber on a 65-26 vote
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North Dakota has risen up in defiance of Joe Biden's recent executive order as the state House of Representatives passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in female school sports events.
State lawmakers passed the bill on Thursday that requires school athletes to participate on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex.
HB 1298 passed North Dakota’s lower chamber on a 65-26 vote and is now slated to head to the state Senate, according to the Grand Forks Herald.
“This is about girls competing with girls, ensuring equal opportunity, and keeping a level playing field in girls’ sports,” said the bill's co-sponsor, state Rep. Kathy Skroch (R-Lidgerwood).
“It upholds 50 years of progress and protecting women against discrimination and advocates for the preservation of biological standards.”
“Some have said this bill just doesn’t follow the science," argues the bill’s main sponsor, state Rep. Ben Koppelman (R), who is appealing to history and biology to support his position.
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"We’ve got science going back well before the United States that backs this," Koppelman continues.
"This isn’t new science.
"Men and women didn’t just cease to exist.
"They’ve existed for a long time and we’ve been able to recognize the differences.”
North Dakota state House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D) said that the bill will disappoint kids, according to The Blaze.
"It's about learning about yourself, being part of a team, solving problems, figuring out life," Boschee said.
"But we're gonna tell some kids you can't. ...
"And even though most of those kids aren't gonna go up for high school athletics because it's not within their skillset or desirability, they're gonna see the action made by this body and it's going to play into some unfortunate other decisions that they'll make."
North Dakota state Rep. Greg Westlind (R) told KYFR-TV that he has concerns about the bill potentially opening the door for potential litigation and more.
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Similar bills are progressing through approximately 12 other state governments across the country.
HB 1298 also bans sporting events from receiving public funding if they allow trans athletes to play on a team based on their preferred gender identity.
