Dupage Policy Journal

Former Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives has publicly criticized U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin for their votes against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This bill, which aimed to restrict transgender women from participating in women's sports, failed to advance in the Senate after falling short of the required 60 votes. Ives expressed her views on March 3 through a social media post on X.

"Of course Duckworth and Durbin voted against keeping men out of women's sports - because they won't stand up to the Woke mob," said Ives.

According to AP News, the proposed legislation sought to amend Title IX by defining sex based on reproductive biology at birth. Supporters, including Senators Duckworth and Durbin, argued that the bill was necessary to ensure fairness in female athletics. However, opponents criticized it as discriminatory against transgender individuals.

Screenshot of Ive's Mar. 3 post on X. | Jeanne Ives

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act was intended to clarify that eligibility for athletic teams should be determined based on biological sex at birth. The bill was part of a broader movement aiming to reaffirm Title IX's original intent, which was enacted in 1972 to provide equal opportunities for women in education and athletics. Opponents contended that it unfairly targeted transgender individuals and conflicted with evolving interpretations of gender identity protections under federal law.

Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin have consistently supported LGBTQ+ rights. In June 2019, they reintroduced the Equality Act. Durbin emphasized the importance of this legislation by stating, "No one should be treated as less than equal because of who they love or who they are."

Jeanne Ives is an American conservative politician who served as an Illinois state representative from 2013 to 2019, representing Chicago’s western suburbs' 42nd district. According to her Ballotpedia page, she ran for Congress in Illinois' 6th district in 2020 but narrowly lost to Democrat Sean Casten. A former Army officer and West Point graduate, Ives continues advocating for conservative policies focused on economic reform and government accountability.