Republican Lawmakers Tee-Up Battle Over Transgender Sports In Oregon

The Oregon House rejected a bill requiring school sports teams to be designated by biological sex, sparking controversy over transgender athlete participation. Republicans responded by urging federal intervention from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, citing Title IX concerns. House Bill 2037 aimed to restrict female sports and intimate spaces to biological females only. This followed an Oregon track meet where a transgender athlete's participation led to protests by other competitors. Republicans argue that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports displaces female competitors and violates Title IX. Democrats defended transgender athletes' rights to participate, cautioning against alienating them. The DOJ had already launched an investigation into Oregon's education system for potential sex-based discrimination. The investigation stems from a complaint that Oregon's "gender identity" policies, developed with the Department of Education, violate civil rights laws. The DOJ's review could lead to policy changes or legal action if violations are found.