Maryland Del. Szeliga plans sixth push to limit girls sports teams to biological females

MARYLAND (WBFF) — A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has energized a renewed push in Maryland to restrict girls sports teams to biological females, setting up another legislative fight in Annapolis over transgender participation in school athletics.

In a ruling last week, the Supreme Court determined that states can limit girls sports to only those who are biological females, meaning transgender girls can be barred from competing in female sports.

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State Del. Kathy Szeliga called the decision a boost for legislation she has tried to pass in Maryland for the past five years without success. She said she plans to return to Annapolis with a similar measure for a sixth attempt.

“The Supreme Court said there’s a physiological, scientific difference between boys and girls,” Szeliga said. “I was so excited when the Supreme Court said exactly what we know.”

Szeliga said the ruling could help build support for her proposal, pointing to similar laws elsewhere.

“It certainly gives us momentum because 26 states have passed a law saying competitive girls sports can be just for girls,” she said.

Szeliga argued that allowing transgender girls to compete in girls sports harms biological female athletes.

“By allowing them in you’re discriminating against biological girls,” she said.

Opponents have long argued that such measures are discriminatory and say equity in women’s sports should include participation based on gender identity.

“I think when we’re talking about this issue we really want to see equity in women’s sports and that means participation along the identified genders. Just like we have with race we have black and white folks, we have a spectrum and gender is also a spectrum,” Lee Blinder, executive director of Trans Maryland, said.

Szeliga said supporters of restricting girls sports to biological females include families concerned about fairness and safety.

“These are women, parents, grandparents who want to make sure their daughters’ records are protected and their safety is protected,” she said.