SE Minnesota News

Minnesota State Representative Duane Quam has responded to a recent Minnesota Supreme Court opinion involving USA Powerlifting, expressing concern about the implications for women's sports in the state.

"Today's court decision opens the door for it to be discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act for there to be girls' or women's-only sports when those sports exclude males based on sex," Quam said. "The interpretation tramples the core of Title IX, female athletics, and the biological reality that males and females are physiologically different. Disregarding those differences isn't fair for girls and women, and it denies science.”

Quam explained his ongoing legislative efforts: "I have been working for years to make Minnesota law reflect both fairness and biology. I've authored legislation to protect student privacy in locker rooms and restrooms, as well as ensure athletic eligibility is based on biological sex, not identity or interpretation. My bill, HF 565, simply says individuals with a Y chromosome (born male) cannot compete on athletic teams reserved for females. It’s about fairness, safety, privacy, and opportunity for women and girls.”

He also noted that House Republicans introduced additional bills—HF 12 and HF 1233—in the previous session aimed at preserving women’s sports integrity. According to Quam, these bills were blocked by House Democrats but will be reintroduced in the upcoming legislative session.

“Every athlete deserves a fair chance to compete,” Quam added. “Women shouldn’t lose scholarships, championships, or their safety because our laws fail to recognize biological differences. I’ll keep fighting to ensure that science and fairness prevail over ideology when we create policy. There are also at least two cases regarding transgender athletes pending before the United States Supreme Court this coming term, and a federal decision will supersede state law.”