Democrats Stick Together Against Anti-Trans 'Girls In Sports' Bill
HuffPost
Top Democrats think they’ve hit on a response to Republican anti-trans legislation, calling it "predator empowerment."
WASHINGTON — All but two Democrats in the House of Representatives on Tuesday voted against a Republican bill aimed at preventing transgender girls and women from competing in school sports.
The show of Democratic unity against the bill, dubbed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, was something of a surprise after several prominent Democrats complained that the party’s support for trans rights contributed to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in November.
Democratic leaders encouraged rank-and-file members to vote against the bill, sharing aggressive talking points about how banning trans girls from school sports would subject all girls to humiliating gender screenings by adults — and worse.
“The House Republican Child Predator Empowerment Act does not promote fairness and safety in sports,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on social media. “It will unleash horrific child predators on girls and young women throughout America.”
Party leadership settled on the “predator empowerment” branding on Monday evening, and in a Tuesday morning caucus meeting, Jeffries suggested the legislation would create opportunities for predatory adult behavior in sports like gymnastics and wrestling, according to a source in the room.