New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus Chairs Tiffany Cabán and Erik Bottcher Applaud Senate Democrats Blocking the “Child Predator Empowerment Act”
March 4, 2025
New York City
On Monday, the Democrats of the United States Senate blocked a bill which would prevent transgender girls from playing sports in school athletic programs for girls.
In response, Council Member Tiffany Cabán and Council Member Erik Bottcher, Co-Chairs of the New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus, released the following statement:
“Senate Democrats blocked the “Child Predator Empowerment Act” in the U.S. Senate today, marking a significant victory for transgender rights and for all who believe in equality and safety for children.
In a show of unwavering unity, every Democratic senator – under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – voted against this discriminatory bill, demonstrating a powerful front against ongoing attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights.
This legislation was dangerously broad in scope. It sought to bar transgender athletes from participating in sports by redefining “sex” in federal civil rights law based solely on biology at birth. Had it passed, it could have set a perilous precedent, opening the door to restricting transgender people’s rights far beyond the playing field. The Caucus condemns this attempt to write discrimination into law and is relieved that it has been defeated.
Yesterday’s vote is a victory against Donald Trump’s fascist agenda. Attempts to strip away the rights of transgender individuals and other marginalized communities are a cornerstone of that agenda – and those attempts must be stopped in their tracks. The message is clear: hate and bigotry have no place in our laws.
The New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus stands proudly with our transgender siblings and the entire LGBTQIA+ community. To every young person witnessing this attempted assault on our existence, know this: you belong, you are seen, and your rights and your existence are not up for debate. You have the right to live authentically and to participate fully in all aspects of life – including in sports – without fear or exclusion. We will continue to fight for you every day.
And to the Republicans who voted for this cruel bill, let us remind you: there are currently 510,000 athletes competing at the N.C.A.A. level, and just 10 are transgender. Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars and government time passing a bill to be cruel to a tiny number of transgender girls who just want to play sports with their friends. In doing so, Republicans continue to be creepily obsessed with children’s genitalia and put all girls at risk of genitalia inspections and invasive questioning in order to enforce this obscene rule. We cannot imagine anything more cowardly than wasting taxpayer time and money to bully a small group of people who have done nothing to you, and want nothing but to live their lives.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Chuck Schumer for his steadfast leadership in defeating this bill. His commitment to equality and justice ensured that this hateful legislation did not advance. The Caucus thanks him and every senator who stood on the right side of history today.
This victory reaffirms that our community is strong, our allies are steadfast, and that we will always rise to defend the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers and people across the nation.”
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