Conservative Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) has introduced a bill that would legally erase transgender people if passed. Officially titled the “Defining Male and Female Act of 2024,” Marshall’s bill will apparently put an end to what he considered the Biden administration’s attempt to “replace biological sex with dangerous radical gender ideology,” according to LGBTQ Nation.
The draconian law includes a long list of definitions for terms like “male,” “female,” “father” and “girl.” Marshall’s hope is that these definitions would bar transgender people from interacting with society in ways that align with their gender identities. This includes participation in school sports, use of proper restrooms, locker rooms and dorm rooms, prisons, shelters and more.
Marshall, a former OB/GYN attempted to back his bill stating: “As a physician who has delivered over 5,000 babies, I can confidently say that politicizing children’s gender to sue them as pawns in their radical woke agenda is not only wrong, it is extremely dangerous. We must codify the legal definition of sex to be based on science rather than feelings. With our legislation, we can fight back against the Biden-Harris Administration’s assault on our children.”
With his statement, Marshall seems to imply that transgender identities are a new concept, introduced as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s political agenda, an idea which disregards a deep and rich history of transgender and fluid gender identities across the world.
Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s claims of support for the LGBQT+ community, transgender people have still been under constant threat over the past four years as state and local lawmakers have tried to poke holes in the basic human rights of trans people nationwide.
With the arrival of Trump’s second term comes an even more pointedly fearful moment for trans Americans. As if the last four years of right-wing attacks weren’t enough, much of Trump’s campaign capitalized on anti-trans hate with millions of dollars invested in transphobic ads and messaging.
What’s more, there are already predictions swirling about what Trump might do on his first days in office, with a transgender military ban looming at the top of the agenda.
In July, a similar bill was introduced by House Rep. Mary Miller who hoped that her bill would ensure Title IX protections did not extend to protect the rights of transgender people.
Though it’s doubtful that Marshall’s bill will be passed under the current Democrat-controlled Senate, LGBTQ Nation predicts he might aim to introduce the bill in the Senate’s next session under Republican control.
Reports from Them indicate that the bill is backed by far-right conservative groups like the Heritage Action (a partner of the Heritage Foundation), Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and Alliance Defending Freedom, organizations that have supported the drafting up of various anti-trans bills in recent years.