Republicans introduce bill to define ‘male’ and ‘female’ based on biological differences (US)

[IwantToRetire]

Several Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to clarify that the terms “male,” “female,” and “sex,” among others, refer to the biological distinctions between men and women when those words are used in laws.

The Defining Male and Female Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall from Kansas, aims to prevent government officials and courts from reinterpreting those terms through the lens of gender ideology by identifying men and women based on self-identification instead of biological distinctions.

Marshall said in a statement that he “didn’t think we would need legislation to tell us that there are only two sexes, male and female, but here we are.”

According to a news release, the legislation would restore the legal right to reserve girls’ and women’s sports and scholarships for biological girls and women. The news release also states that the bill would restore the sex separation of restrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms, prisons, and shelters for victims of sexual assault.

“As a physician who has delivered over 5,000 babies, I can confidently say that politicizing children’s gender to use them as pawns in their radical woke agenda is not only wrong, it is extremely dangerous,” Marshall said. “We must codify the legal definition of sex to be based on science rather than feelings. With our legislation, we can fight back against the Biden-Harris administration’s assault on our children.”
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in a statement that “men and women have biological differences that must be recognized.” He added that “women and girls deserve to feel safe and respected in all spaces, public and private.”

The legislation is designed to unwind policies that were enacted during the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Under the current administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reinterpreted the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition on “sex” discrimination to include any discrimination on the basis of so-called “gender identity.” The rule was blocked by a judge but would have forced health care providers and insurers to cover transgender drugs and surgeries for both adults and minors.

The administration also revised Title IX regulations to redefine sex discrimination to include any discrimination based on gender identity. This could have forced publicly funded schools and colleges to allow biological men in women’s locker rooms, dormitories, and athletic competitions. However, its enforcement is limited after multiple courts blocked implementation.

Article continues at https://ewtn.co.uk/article-republicans-introduce-bill-to-define-male-and-female-based-on-biological-differences/

I suspect this will be treated with suspicion by some because it seems to have the backing of churches.

And that it was introduced by a Republican - press release Defining Male and Female Act of 2024,

Well, I’ll be watching this Bill’s passage through the legislature with interest 🍿

I'm not suspicious... just relieved. Thanks for sharing.

I’m looking forward to all of those vocal male trans activists arguing in Congress about how their bodies are female now.

I can’t find it at the moment but some organisation has a discussion panel on YT from a couple of days ago. Kara Dansky is discussing recently writing an amicus brief to one of the many US court cases happening right now. She said “… and it dawned on me that I have to do something that I never thought I would have to and that is find a legally defensible definition of male and female …”.

She found one at the National Institutes of Health and so put into her brief a list including vas deferens, testicles, epididymis etc so she can say “when we discuss a man, these are the attributes we are discussing and the same with females”. (I may have misquoted a couple of words).

This is excellent news!

Good.

Sanity 👍

This is wonderful.

It'll be fantastic if Trump is serious about this, given that he's announced so many things that he'll do the moment he's back in power, this one could get lost in the noise, tho he may be swayed to act decisively as so many commentators believe the 'Kamala is for they/them; Trump is for you' slogan was influential in turning marginal blue states red.

Won’t people think of all the non-binary people who will be so very very sad that they won’t exist anymore?

I'm looking forward to The Guardian opinion piece describing this as 'far right' as opposed to 'entirely sensible'.

i have a dream, one day, men won’t be sat outside the White House, hoiking their tops up and giggling so we can see their manmade chemically- induced boobs or implants, and living their girlhood dreams while some look on wanting to vomit in a bag, and some applaud kindly, telling them they are real girls now. Pinocchio became a real boy, but it was a story. Just like them.

Wow. I never thought I would see the day. Very good news seeing as how we have a lot of american corporate influences in the UK, especially surrounding this gender crap.

Let's hope the "girlies" parade their shock and hurt over the possible banning of their inclusiveness in women's provisions. Let the sunlight shine bright ☀

EDIT - thanks for posting this @IwantToRetire , I don't always respond to your threads but I really do appreciate you posting them 💕

I think there's a case being heard tomorrow at the Supreme Court.

Eta

There's already a thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5222777-us-supreme-court-thread-united-states-v-skrmetti-december-4th

You defintely get the impression that the Trump administration intends to take no prisoners.....and the thing is, they've taken the lead in the U.S from the movement here, even if they are now first to act on it.

She may not be everyone's cup of tea bu KJK did make some waves over there ( my friend in Florida certainly became aware of her); and JK Rowling has certainly been an important figure too. It was Sharon Davies that got Martina Navratilova on board, and that enabled and empowered Riley Gaines to speak out.

Of course some will say this action cannot be trusted because it has been implemented by the Right, and because it has Christian backing......but those people say the same things here too. The fact is, the Left has primary responsiblity for this shit, and they will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the future...because history is not on their side,

Of course some will say this action cannot be trusted because it has been implemented by the Right, and because it has Christian backing......but those people say the same things here too. The fact is, the Left has primary responsiblity for this shit, and they will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the future...because history is not on their side

Completely agree. We have also had a lot of investment from some quarters in stressing why we cannot possibly repeal the GRA. Why is that? Why has there been so much effort put into that? We'd be much further along in restoring safeguarding and sex based rights if we'd taken a Repeal line. But I guess that makes me an Ultra Far Right Bigot who's simply too dense to understand various lofty academic arguments or whatever

He's got a great way with words:
“As a physician who has delivered over 5,000 babies, I can confidently say that politicizing children’s gender to use them as pawns in their radical woke agenda is not only wrong, it is extremely dangerous,” Marshall said. “We must codify the legal definition of sex to be based on science rather than feelings."

Such a fast about turn just demonstrates how flimsy the gender ideologists arguments were in the first place.

This would have seemed impossible 6 months ago.

Sanity being restored by a Trump government feels like an Oxymoron yet here we are, just shows how far off course the Democrats have fallen.

Do you think the Supreme Court in our country will hear of this as they are reflecting on their case?

Are they defining the words 'man' and 'woman' too? If they just define male and female then gender ideologists will just argue that man and woman are different. I mean we don't always call it female toilet or female football do we? we say woman's

It’s good news

It couldn’t be clearer!

www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/KIN2463023.pdf

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day!

Well worded, I agree, it even aims to clear up the meaning of the word 'gender':

‘gender’, when used alone to refer to males, females, or the natural differences between males and females— ‘‘(A) shall be considered a synonym for sex; and ‘‘(B) shall not be considered a synonym or short-hand expression for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role'

and the issue of people with DSDs:
Rare disorders of sexual development are not exceptions to the binary nature of sex.

The senators who proposed the bill identify themselves as 'pro-life', so much will be made of that, no doubt - cf MrsKeats' stopped clock!

I do take your point, but I actually see 'female toilets' signs quite a bit.
As something of a pedant I get annoyed by it