• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, September 23, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Bill Restricting Girls’ Sports to Biological Females Advances in Iowa House

An Iowa House subcommittee advanced HF 2309, a bill that supporters say protects women's sports and opponents claim marginalizes transgender students.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
February 11, 2022
in State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Bill Restricting Girls’ Sports to Biological Females Advances in Iowa House
ADVERTISEMENT

DES MOINES, Iowa – On Thursday morning, an Iowa House subcommittee advanced HF 2309, a bill that supporters say protects women’s sports and opponents claim marginalizes transgender students.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

New report says Iowa’s property taxes are 10th highest in U.S.

AG Bird sues over alleged fraudulent door-to-door stem cell therapy treatments

State Reps. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, and Skyler Wheeler, R-Orange City, sponsored the bill and participated in the subcommittee. They signed onto the bill to allow it to advance to a committee vote while State Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, declined to support the bill.

The bill states that teams, sports, or athletic events sponsored or sanctioned by an accredited nonpublic school, school district, or organization, must be designated for women or girls, men or boys, or co-ed or mixed, based on the biological sex of participating students.

The legislation says that only females, based on their sex, may participate in any team, sport, or athletic event designated for females, women, or girls. However, it does not prohibit females from participating on teams, in sports, or participating in events designed for men or boys.

HF 2309 also states students have a private cause of action for “injunctive, mandamus, damages, and declaratory relief” against entities that violate the requirements in this bill, and they suffer direct or indirect harm as a result. It also provides a cause of action for accredited nonpublic schools, school districts, or organizations who suffer indirect or direct harm due to violating the requirements of this legislation.

It also provides a cause of action for students who are retaliated against for reporting a violation. 

“We should not sideline girls in their own sports. Allowing males to compete in female sports will reverse 50 years of advancement for women. If we allow transgender athletes to play girls sports, that would rob girls from the opportunity to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and self-discipline, and to build a send of belonging with their own peers. This bill will protect girls sports, which is squarely our goal,” Skyler told The Iowa Torch.

Stone told The Iowa Torch that the bill does not discriminate against transgender students. 

“The bill doesn’t discriminate against anyone. Boys play in boys’ sports and girls’ play in girls’ sports. We want to protect girls so they don’t have to play against biological males. It doesn’t prevent transgender students from competing. Biologically you are a male, biologically you can compete against males. If you are biologically female you can compete against girls. This is why Title IX is created,” he said.

“We really want to preserve women’s sports and give them a fair shot,” Stone added.

Iowa Safe Schools, Planned Parenthood, Rural School Advocates of Iowa, Urban Education Network of Iowa, Common Good Iowa, Iowa Association of School Boards, Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, Please Pass the Love, National Association of Social Workers, Iowa School Mental Health Alliance, One Iowa Action, ACLU of Iowa, Human Rights Campaign, Iowa State Education Association, and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa opposed the legislation. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Concerned Women for America, VALOR Iowa, and The FAMiLY Leader registered support for the bill. 

The Iowa Torch reached out to State Rep. Mary Mascher for comment but did not hear back before publication. 

Tags: 2022 Iowa Legislative Session89th General AssemblyHenry StoneMary MascherSkyler Wheelertransgender athletestransgender issueswomen's sports
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

What Is the Best State to Drive In? WalletHub Says Iowa

Next Post

Guard Your Heart From Scammers This Valentine’s Day

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

Opinion

Hendrickson: Governor Kim Reynolds sets the gold standard for state policy

August 21, 2023
Reynolds signs bill phasing in 3.9 percent flat tax
Opinion

Hendrickson: Iowa – the gold standard leader in state tax reform

July 27, 2023
photo of woman holding ball
Opinion

Feenstra: Defending our daughters and granddaughters

April 28, 2023
Ernst says Senate must act to protect women’s sports
Federal Government

Ernst says Senate must act to protect women’s sports

April 27, 2023
State Government

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

March 23, 2023
white tiled wall with men s restroom sign
State Government

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

March 20, 2023
Next Post
Guard Your Heart From Scammers This Valentine’s Day

Guard Your Heart From Scammers This Valentine's Day

Ernst: Crime is on the rise with progressive politicians and liberal DAs

Ernst: Crime is on the rise with progressive politicians and liberal DAs

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Iowa’s Mask Mandate Ban

September 14, 2021
Chief Information Officer Announces Departure for Private Sector

Chief Information Officer Announces Departure for Private Sector

October 8, 2021
Law Enforcement in Iowa Faces Recruitment, Retirement Challenges

Law Enforcement in Iowa Faces Recruitment, Retirement Challenges

May 26, 2021

Popular Stories

  • New ad features DeSantis plan for southern border

    New ad features DeSantis plan for southern border

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Feenstra: Combating President Biden’s electric vehicle mandates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa Schools Now Required to Lead Students in Pledge of Allegiance

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Schmitt: Strong Women Leaders Work For Iowa. They Can Work For America Too.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.