Member of US House of Representative from Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard lashed out at critics who had called her ‘transphobic’ for introducing a legislation to prevent transgender women from competing in female sports.
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard along with Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin had introduced a bill in the Congress on Thursday (December 10) that calls for Title IX compliance to be “determined on the basis of biological sex as determined at birth by a physician.”
Title IX forbids sex-based discrimination in any school receiving federal funds and is best known for ensuring women’s college sports programs receive equal support. A federal judge had recently applied it to order that a transgender woman could not be kept off a women’s sports team.
Following this, many called Gabbard, who leaves Congress this month, as “transphobic” and other adjectives.
However, in her defence, Gabbard said that the legislation does not discriminate against anyone but rather protects the rights of biological females competing in sports against biological men who identify as females.
“It’s not a level playing field. And it’s mind-boggling how quickly people attack those whose positions are based on science and common sense.” Gabbard was quoted saying in the New York Post.
She further added “The real reason why so many people are upset by my Title IX legislation is that it recognizes the biological distinction between men and women”.
“It’s the height of hypocrisy for someone who claims to be an advocate for women’s rights to also simultaneously to deny the biological existence of women. How can someone claim to be a champion of women while denying our very existence?” Gabbard said.