In recent years, some males who self-identify as “transgender” have been allowed to compete in girls’ sports. This phenomenon is problematic from a safety perspective, from a fairness perspective, and from a dignity perspective.
As of February 2025, 27 states have passed laws protecting girls’ sports against intrusion from male athletes. This is a positive development for girls, and for the nation. While there is no likelihood that the state of New York will join the ranks of those states soon, New York Families is pleased to report that two bills have been introduced for this purpose.
The Protect Girls’ Sports Act (Bill S.4496-Weik/A.4687-Molitor) would limit participation in interscholastic girls’ sports in grades seven through 12 to females. The sponsors’ memorandum accurately notes that adolescent and post-adolescent males have an advantage over adolescent and post-adolescent females in most sports because of their greater size, speed, and strength.
Bill S.460-Rhoads takes a somewhat different approach to the same problem. This bill would ban the commissioner of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) from implementing regulations that would stop any given school from keeping boys out of girls’ sports, so long as that school determined that boys’ involvement would adversely impact girls’ health, safety, or sports participation. On March 19, 2025, Sen. Chris Rhoads requested that the Senate Education Committee take up this bill. Under the rules of the State Senate, the Education Committee is required to consider Bill S.460-Rhoads within 45 days.
New York Families thanks Sen. Rhoads, as well as Sen. Alexis Weik and Asm. Andrew Molitor, for introducing these bills.