Democrat Senate Hopefuls Back Bill Effectively Eliminating Women’s Sports [WATCH]

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan, two Democrats running in key battleground Senate races, are drawing scrutiny for their support of the Equality Act, legislation that would expand federal anti-discrimination protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation.

Critics say the bill would effectively eliminate female-only spaces and allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.

Both Ossoff and Stevens are co-sponsoring the reintroduced Equality Act, which was unveiled by congressional Democrats on April 29.

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The legislation, which has failed to pass the Senate in previous sessions, would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include “gender identity” as a protected class.

If enacted, it would require schools and athletic programs to allow transgender students to access facilities and join sports teams that align with their gender identity, regardless of biological sex.

Ossoff, considered one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats heading into the 2026 election cycle, is running unopposed in Georgia’s Democratic primary.

This is Georgia Senator Jon @ossoff.

He just voted against keeping men out of your daughter’s sports.

Never let him forget it. pic.twitter.com/eIgdPhsVs0

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 4, 2025

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Stevens entered a competitive Democratic primary field in April to seek the open Senate seat in Michigan, following Sen. Gary Peters’ announcement that he would not seek re-election.

The lawmakers’ continued support of the Equality Act comes as polling shows a majority of voters in their respective states oppose allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports.

A January poll in Georgia found that 73% of voters support a ban on transgender athletes competing in female sports. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the “Riley Gaines Act” into law in April to enforce such a ban statewide.

A January 2024 New York Times survey also found that nearly 70% of Democrats or Democrat-leaning voters do not support allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.

Despite this, Ossoff and Stevens have voted against legislation that would bar male athletes from joining female teams.

In March, Ossoff helped block Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act via Senate filibuster, drawing criticism from Georgia Republicans.

Ossoff previously campaigned on passing the Equality Act during his 2020 Senate run and has remained consistent in opposing restrictions on transgender athletes.

Rep. Stevens echoed her support in February, calling for the bill’s passage on X: “As a member of the @EqualityCaucus, I’m celebrating 4 years since we last passed the Equality Act — the 119th Congress needs to bring it to a vote, it must become law.”

The #EqualityAct would explicitly protect LGBTQI+ Americans from discrimination under federal civil rights law.

As a member of the @EqualityCaucus, I’m celebrating 4 years since we last passed the Equality Act— the 119th Congress needs to bring it to a vote, it must become law.

— Rep. Haley Stevens (@RepHaleyStevens) February 26, 2025

In April 2023, Stevens spoke on the House floor in opposition to a bill that sought to protect women’s sports, calling it “hateful.”

Former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, the leading Republican candidate in that race, has criticized Stevens for what his campaign describes as failure to safeguard women’s athletics.

“Michiganders see Haley Stevens’ In-Equality Act for what it is: the radical left’s latest scheme to force boys into girls’ bathrooms and sports teams,” said campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet.

“Meanwhile, Mike Rogers and President Trump are fighting to defend girls’ safety, privacy, and opportunity.”

The Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Minority Whip John Thune, has targeted Ossoff with a high-profile ad campaign funded through its advocacy arm, One Nation.

The ads, which aired during major televised sports events including the Masters and the NCAA Final Four, highlight Ossoff’s votes against legislation designed to preserve women’s athletic programs.

One ad features a man impersonating Ossoff dunking over a female basketball player, with the narrator saying, “Man-to-man defense isn’t woke enough for Ossoff. He’s for they/them.”

Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter, who launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being defended by Ossoff, also criticized the senator in his campaign launch video.

“Last November Georgia spoke, but Jon Ossoff doesn’t care,” the video says.

“He fought against President Trump securing our border and voted for men in girls sports. Jon Ossoff is on the wrong side.”

Georgia and Michigan remain key battlegrounds heading into the next Senate election cycle.

The Cook Political Report currently lists both contests as “toss-ups.” President Donald Trump carried both states in his 2024 victory over former Vice President Kamala Harris.

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