Minnesota House Republicans on Monday brought forward a bill they say supports safe and fair competition for girls in school-sanctioned athletics.

House Democrats blocked it, which I, Rep. Shane Mekeland, R-Clear Lake, say leaves the door open for biological males to participate in girls sports.

The bill is called the Preserving Girls Sports Act (H.F. 12). By voting it down, House Democrats undermined safety and fairness for female athletes, while also contradicting vast popular sentiment; polls show around 80 percent of people agree with the position.

It is outrageous for House Democrats to vote against providing our girls with safe and fair competition. This makes no sense and is yet another example of how House Democrats continue catering to radical activists instead of doing what most Minnesotans want. It is beyond me how House Democrats marched in lockstep to take a vote which places young girls in harm’s way and runs against what the vast majority of their constituents want.

The Preserving Girls Sports Act specifically states that only female students may participate in school sports restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls. If there is a dispute, a student must present a signed physician’s statement indicating the student’s sex is based solely on the student’s internal and external anatomy, natural occurring level of testosterone, and an analysis of the student’s chromosomes.

Minnesota State High School League record books find significant differences between top scores in the boys and girls divisions. For example, the boys record holder for long jump is roughly five feet longer than the girls record holder; there’s a seven-second difference in the 400-meter dash; more than an 11-foot difference in the shot put, and a 32-second difference in the swimming 500-yard freestyle.

Furthermore, a simple internet search produces numerous articles indicating girls are being physically injured while participating with biological males in female athletics – from concussions to having teeth knocked out. In addition, a study conducted by the United Nations found that female athletes have lost nearly 900 medals worldwide to transgender men that are competing in their events.

I’m proud to stand up for our girls on this issue. I will let the folks across the aisle explain for themselves why they took such a bad vote to put girls’ safety at risk while undoing decades of progress made under Title IX.

The floor vote came just hours after a Preserving Girls Sports Act rally took place at the Capitol. Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and girls sports advocate, attended the event.

House Republicans tabled the bill after Democrats voted against it, keeping it available for future reconsideration.