Ban on biological males competing on girls' sports teams fails in Ohio General Assembly

An Ohio bill that included a ban on biological males from competing on girls' school sports teams cleared the state Senate but failed to pass the General Assembly.

The more than 2,000-page bill was originally only intended to change the state's teacher residency program. However, on Wednesday Ohio lawmakers added the "Save Women's Sports Act" as an amendment along with more extensive measures such as one taking away most powers from the State Board of Education and another instructing schools to teach students to abstain from sex until marriage, among other things,

The bill, which prohibited "individuals of the male sex" from participating in girl's school sports but specifically not "participants of the female sex" from participating in boy's sports, passed the Ohio Senate on Wednesday by 23-7 on a party line vote, local outlet WCMH reported.

The General Assembly voted to reject the bill early Thursday, but much of the legislation will likely be reintroduced in the next General Assembly, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said.

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said he does not think the state legislature should take up the matter. 

"This issue is best addressed outside of government, through individual sports leagues and athletic associations, including the Ohio High School Athletic Association, who can tailor policies to meet the needs of their member athletes and member institutions," he previously said.