Lafayette Reporter

Senators John Kennedy and Tommy Tuberville have introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, aiming to uphold Title IX protections for female athletes. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that gender is defined based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and it would prohibit federally funded entities from allowing biological males to participate in women's sports.

Kennedy emphasized the importance of protecting young women in sports: “Men have no business disenfranchising or endangering young women. Letting biological men take the field against girls has cost them victories, scholarships and even their health. This bill would make girls’ sports safe for girls again, and I’m going to do everything in my power to help it pass Congress quickly.”

Tuberville also voiced strong support for the bill, citing public opinion and personal motivation: “President Trump ran on the issue of saving women’s sports and won in a landslide. 70% of Americans agree—men don’t belong in women’s sports or locker rooms. I have said many times that I think Title IX is one of the best things to come out of Washington. But in the last few years, it has been destroyed. While I’m glad that the Biden administration ultimately rescinded the proposed rule, Congress has to ensure this never happens again. I am welcoming my first granddaughter this spring and won’t stop fighting until her rights to fairly compete are protected. I hope every one of my colleagues will join me in standing up for our daughters, nieces, and granddaughters by voting for this critical bill.”

The introduction of this bill follows Kennedy's previous actions advocating for women's sports protection, including questioning NCAA President Charlie Baker about safeguarding female athletes from competing against men.