Hello from St. Paul,
A plan that would prevent biological boys in Minnesota from playing in girls’ sports received a full House floor debate this week.
Prior to the vote, hundreds of Minnesotans rallied at the Capitol in support of girls’ athletics and to hear from speakers like Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and maybe the nation’s leading girls' sports advocate.
The Preserve Girls Sports Act has two goals: to promote fairness and to maintain safety in girls’ athletics. It does not prevent any child from participating in sports. Boys and girls have significant physical and physiological differences, which is why this legislation seeks to protect female athletes.
Specifically, the House bill 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.
This is a topic gaining attention both at the federal and state levels. A recent survey found 80% of people believe biological boys should not play in girls’ sports, and that includes 67% of Democrats. Despite this, not one House Democrat voted for the proposal, and it failed passage by one vote.
Following some procedural motions after the vote, the bill could be revisited by the House in the weeks ahead.
DUTY TO RETREAT BILL HEARD ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
If you are being physically attacked, should you run first or actually try to defend yourself and/or your kids?
A bill that eliminates Minnesota’s “duty to retreat” status was debated on the House floor recently. In short, the state wants you to run and flee from a dangerous situation before a use of force is considered justified and lawful.
The Minnesota Supreme Court issued a ruling earlier this year that significantly restricted Minnesotans' ability to defend themselves without facing prosecution. The bill discussed this week ensures that when law-abiding citizens act in self-defense, they aren’t forced to first consider whether they can safely retreat.
Unfortunately, not one House Democrat voted in favor of it, meaning it also failed to pass by one vote.
Have a good weekend,
Tom