House Passes Bill to Bar Transgender Athletes From Female Sports Teams

And they criticized Republicans for harnessing a few examples from the ranks of elite sports of biological males competing against and beating women — examples, they argued, that have little to do with elementary- and middle-school students who simply want to be included in school activities.

“These bills tell some of the most vulnerable children in our country that they do not belong,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington, whose daughter is transgender. “Don’t use our kids as punching bags and put them in danger.”

Democrats also argued that enforcing such a bill would require invasive examinations to determine whether a student was biologically male or female. “How do you verify a girl’s reproductive anatomy?” Ms. Jayapal said. “If your daughter doesn’t look feminine enough, is she subject to examination? This is absolutely absurd.”

About 1.3 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States identify as transgender.

“Recognizing that we are all God’s children, I rise in opposition to this legislation,” said Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, “because trans kids are all God’s children, belong in sports, in schools, in books, in families and on teams.”

She added, “Trans kids listen and hear what we say, and we do not want to do them harm, for whatever purpose, on the floor of this House.”

Ms. Pelosi said the bill was an “insult” to the goals of fairness and inclusion intended by lawmakers who passed the landmark Title IX legislation in 1972, which gave young women the same athletic opportunities as their male counterparts in schools.

The House bill would not entirely bar transgender women from participating in women’s sports. It includes the caveat that transgender athletes could train or practice with a women’s athletic team “so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport” or an opportunity for a scholarship or other benefit.