HYDE-SMITH, COLLEAGUES MOVE TO CODIFY LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF MALE & FEMALE
Legislation Would Stop Biden-Harris Radical Gender Policies, Codify Legal Definitions of Male, Female, and Sex Based on Biology
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Wednesday joined U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) in introducing legislation to codify the legal definitions of male and female.
The Defining Male and Female Act of 2024 (S.5356) would establish clear, biologically-based legal definitions of male, female, and sex, grounded in science, not ideology. Under the Biden-Harris administration, radical gender ideology has increasingly replaced biological sex, which has put women-only spaces and opportunities at risk.
“Ensuring that the legal definitions of male and female are based on biological reality is essential to protecting women and girls. This isn’t just about fairness. It’s also about safeguarding our children, upholding the fundamentals of Title IX, and defending women’s rights,” Hyde-Smith said.
“As a physician who has delivered over 5,000 babies, I can confidently say that politicizing children’s gender to use them as pawns in their radical woke agenda is not only wrong, it is extremely dangerous. I didn’t think we would need legislation to tell us that there are only two sexes: male and female, but here we are,” Marshall said. “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.”
S.5356 would depart from Biden-Harris policies that have led to harmful consequences for children, including the promotion of “gender-affirming care,” which often involves irreversible medical interventions that can cause long-term physical and emotional harm.
The Defining Male and Female Act of 2024 would restore key protections for women and children, including:
- Ensuring women and girls have the right to participate in sex-segregated sports and access scholarships;
- Preserving the separation of restrooms, locker rooms, dormitories, prisons, and shelters for victims of sexual assault based on biological sex; and,
- Recognizing the clear biological differences between males and females, as well as the distinct roles of mothers and fathers.
Additional original cosponsors include U.S. Senators James Risch (R-Idaho) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). U.S. Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) is an original cosponsor of a companion bill (HR.9218) in the House of Representatives.
Hyde-Smith has actively fought the Biden administration’s efforts to gut the protections provided to girls and women in Title IX, including directly challenging Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and introducing a congressional resolution of disapproval to overturn the administration’s Title IX rule change. She also cosponsored Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville’s Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
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