Oregon — A Republican-led effort to designate school sports participation based on biological sex failed to advance in the Oregon House, intensifying debate over fairness and inclusion in K–12 athletics. House Bill 2037, introduced in January 2025, sought to require student-athletes to compete on sex-designated teams aligned with their biological sex, while preserving co-ed and male-designated leagues.
The bill’s sponsors, and Republican legislators, argued the legislation was necessary to protect fairness in girls’ sports and comply with federal Title IX requirements. According to the bill’s official summary, HB 2037 would have mandated that “athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls” be restricted to students whose biological sex is female.
House Democrats, however, declined to advance the bill out of committee, seemingly killing it for the session. Republican lawmakers, citing growing public concern, attempted a procedural maneuver to force a floor vote but were initially unsuccessful, as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Ultimately, the Republicans were able to force the bill to the floor for a vote where it was defeated along party lines with Democrats holding a super-majority.
| Vote | Tally | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yea | 22 | – | 22 |
| Nay | 32 | 32 | – |
| Not Voting | – | – | – |
| Absent | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 59 | 35 | 24 |
https://legiscan.com/OR/rollcall/HB2037/id/1585421
Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton) issued a sharp response in a press release, he emphasized that the refusal to act on HB 2037 puts Oregon’s public schools at legal and moral risk: “Oregonians from across the political spectrum agree — males and females should compete separately in sports.” He cited potential violations of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and warned that Oregon could jeopardize federal education funding by allowing biological males to compete in female sports.
Joining Diehl in support of the bill was Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), who stood alongside nearly a dozen young female athletes at the Capitol. “Many of them have directly competed against males and been forced to change in the same locker room,” she said. Drawing on her experience as a former athlete, coach, and mother of three daughters, Boshart Davis underscored the importance of preserving fairness in school athletics: “Our daughters deserve a level playing field. They deserve to know that their hard work will not be erased by policies that ignore biological differences.”
Recent incidents in Oregon high school sports have intensified scrutiny, including a high jump controversy where two female athletes refused to share the podium with a transgender competitor. In another event, a biological male dominated girls’ sprint races and set new records. “Each time this happens, it’s one too many,” Boshart Davis said. “Fairness in women’s sports is not negotiable, and dismissing these stories as rare misses the point: every lost opportunity matters.” She called HB 2037 “one of the most significant civil rights issues of our time” and criticized House Democrats for voting unanimously against it.
Despite the defeat, House Republicans indicated they would continue to press for legislation ensuring biological sex-based designations in school athletics and locker room policies. With growing public engagement and mounting stories from affected athletes, the issue is expected to remain a focal point in Oregon’s political landscape.
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