ST. PAUL – State Representative Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) voted in favor of legislation this week that would prohibit boys from playing in girls’ sports in Minnesota.
“To me, this entire debate boils down to girls’ safety and fairness in elementary and high school athletic events,” Torkelson said. “We have seen numerous instances over the past few years where girls are getting seriously injured during a sporting event after encountering an athlete that was born as a boy but identifies as a girl.
Torkelson said the bill specially states that only students of the female sex may participate in an elementary or secondary school athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls. If there is a dispute, a student must present a signed physician’s statement indicating the student’s sex is based solely on the student’s internal and external anatomy, natural occurring level of testosterone, and an analysis of the student’s chromosomes.
Torkelson said the bill received a full vote of the Minnesota House on March 3. All 67 Republicans voted for the proposal, and all 66 Democrats voted against it. 68 votes are needed in order for legislation to be approved in the Minnesota House. Following some procedural motions after the vote, Torkelson said the bill could be revisited by the House in the weeks ahead.