Dotseth: House Democrats Block Bills Which Prohibit Boys from Playing in Girls’ Sports
ST. PAUL – Minnesota House Republicans on Tuesday attempted to advance three separate bills they said protect safe and fair athletic competitions for biological females. Democrats blocked each proposal.
State Rep. Jeff Dotseth, R-Silver Creek, said the effort responds to recent news that the Department of Justice is suing Minnesota for failing to protect girls sports and women-only spaces. The legislation also follows a recent International Olympic Committee decision banning men from women’s Olympic events.
The Preserving Girls Sports Act (H.F. 12) is one of three bills House Republicans looked to approve. It specifically states that only female students may participate in school sports restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls. By failing to pass it into law, Dotseth said the door remains open for biological males to continue participating in Minnesota girls sports even though polls show around 80 percent of people agree with the bill’s position.
“This is another sign of how far out of touch some legislators are from the concerns of everyday Minnesotans,” Dotseth said. “You would think by now people might recognize that Minnesotans are growing tired of these extreme positions. Fairness and safety matter in girls sports, and so do the people who worked so hard to advance Title IX over the course of decades.
“When it comes to athletic competition, decisions should be based on biological reality. It’s too bad House Democrats once again sided with the radicals instead of standing up for girls by doing what the overwhelming majority of Minnesotans wants.”
The action on the Minnesota House floor comes after the DOJ announced in March that it is suing Minnesota to protect girls sports. The suit alleges Minnesota is violating Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls competition, creating an unfair playing field and limiting opportunities for female athletes. It comes after Minnesota missed a key federal deadline of Jan. 2, 2026, to change its transgender athlete policy or risk penalties.
The Minnesota Supreme Court in October ruled that excluding males from female athletics based on sex qualifies as illegal “public accommodation” discrimination. Meanwhile, the Minnesota State High School League refuses to comply with a federal ban on biological males competing in female sports. Last spring, a male-born pitcher led a female softball team to a state championship in dominating fashion.
In addition, starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the International Olympic Committee has implemented a new policy prohibiting athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category. This policy restricts the women’s category to biological females, which the IOC said aims to protect the fairness, safety, and integrity of female sports.
House Democrats also voted against allowing a vote on the Preserving Girls Sports Act to take place last year. On Tuesday, House Republicans also motioned to act on two other similarly themed bills (H.F. 2685 and H.F. 1233), but Democrats stopped those on separate votes as well.