On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives quietly passed a supplemental budget bill containing a common-sense provision to protect girls’ sports, but instead of standing on principle, lawmakers used a procedural sleight of hand to dodge the issue and avoid going on record.
The provision, filed by Rep. John Gaskey, states that no public school shall allow biological males to compete on girls’ sports teams, ensuring that female athletes are not forced to compete in unfair and unsafe matchups. The amendment also outlines consequences for schools that violate the policy, including forfeiture of affected games and legal recourse for those seeking to uphold the law.
But rather than vote to support or oppose this straightforward protection, Democratic leadership added an amendment sending the measure to a study, thereby delaying its implementation—likely indefinitely. Rep. Ken Gordon, who introduced the study amendment, claimed the issue “deserves a public hearing” and said both sides of the debate have raised concerns. While presented as a neutral move, the real motivation behind the amendment was to shield legislators from having to take a public vote on an increasingly unpopular position.
Rep. Gaskey condemned the procedural change as a deliberate effort by Democrats to bury the measure and avoid a recorded vote.
“We already know how many students are going to be affected: Every student is going to be affected,” he said. “Every student athlete will play on the team that they were born to play on …That’s what this amendment is for. We don’t need a study. The polls support this. The federal government supports this. It’s time that we recognize science.”
Why would Democratic lawmakers go to such lengths to avoid a vote? According to public statements from Rep. Mike Connolly, the real concern was the political fallout, especially for members in swing districts. Connolly admitted the House didn’t want to risk a vote where the results were unpredictable, implying that a significant number of Democrats may have actually supported the girls’ sports protections had it come to a floor vote.
Tying the sports protection language to a future study is especially egregious in light of new polling. According to a March 2025 survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire, 63 percent of Massachusetts residents oppose allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. Only 26 percent support it. The message from voters is clear: a majority of Massachusetts residents want to protect fairness and safety for girls.
The amendment by Rep. Gordon requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to analyze the measure and issue a report. The legislature would then need to pass additional laws to enact any recommendations.
Contact your legislators today and urge them to support keeping this commonsense protection intact without burying it under endless study commissions or bureaucratic delays. Ask them specifically about who will be on the committee conducting the study and when the review of the policy change will be completed.
The political class in Massachusetts is out of touch with the people they claim to represent. Girls’ sports are under threat, and rather than offering clarity and conviction, our lawmakers are hiding behind procedural smoke screens. We must hold them accountable. Contact your elected officials today!
Help MFI advocate for safety and fairness in girls’ sports with a generous donation today!
