New Legislation on Gender and Women’s Rights in Education

Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Illinois, put forth a new bill on Tuesday that defines sex under Title IX strictly as biological male or female, a move first reported by Daily Caller.

The “Safety and Opportunities of Women’s Law,” which Miller reintroduced on August 26, coincides with the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. This law aims to tackle issues related to women’s sports and locker rooms while clarifying the gender definition in Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendment, as per a press release from Daily Caller.

The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit gender-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs, which include public schools and universities. Miller remarked that her bill strives to restore the original intent of Title IX, arguing that allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports and access private spaces undermines women’s rights.

“The left is erasing decades of progress for women by forcing girls to compete and share private spaces with men. This cannot continue,” she stated. “On this significant anniversary, my bill aims to protect the sports, privacy, and opportunities for biological girls.”

According to the bill, there will be a new definition section that distinctly defines “male,” “female,” and “sex.” The term “female” is described as someone who naturally has or had a reproductive system that produces or uses eggs at some point, while “male” refers to someone with a reproductive system that produces or uses sperm. When referring to an individual, “sex” will denote male or female as determined biologically.

The bill has garnered support from several Republican representatives, including Nancy Mace from South Carolina, Tim Burchett from Tennessee, and others. It aims to codify a Presidential Order from Donald Trump that emphasizes the unchanging biological categories of men and women, contrasting “gender” with “gender identity.”

This order is intended to eliminate gender ideology within federal institutions. Trump has stated that his administration is dedicated to protecting women’s rights through clear policies recognizing the biological distinctions between females and males.

Miller’s legislation also introduces the concept of “sexual separation,” asserting that Title IX permits schools to maintain separate locker rooms, exercise programs, academic courses, and bathrooms based on sex. It further blocks the Department of Education from compelling schools to eliminate gender-segregated facilities or programs to qualify for federal funding.

Miller plans to advance the bill with backing from various groups, including American Principles Project and Moms for Freedom, which advocate for family policies and women’s rights.

In a previous statement, Miller indicated that the bill will fully articulate Trump’s order to keep men out of women’s sports. It aims to ensure that public schools uphold women-only spaces or risk losing federal funding if they do not comply.

The bill also mandates the federal government to withdraw funds from public schools that deny women and girls access to women-only areas.