Rep Diehl: Dems reject bill protecting fairness in school sports

By State Representative Ed Diehl
June 5th, 2025

Today, Representative Ed Diehl (R-Stayton) issued the following statement after the Oregon Democrat majority voted down House Bill 2037, legislation aimed at preserving fairness in athletic competition by designating school sports teams based on biological sex.

“By rejecting HB 2037, the Democrat majority has once again chosen ideology over fairness, common sense, and compliance with federal law,” said Rep. Diehl. “This bill was straightforward: protect female athletes and ensure a level playing field in school sports. Instead, the majority prioritized political agendas over equal opportunity for Oregon’s young athletes.”

HB 2037 would have created clear, common-sense guidelines for athletic participation in K–12 schools, affirming that students compete on teams based on their biological sex, while preserving co-ed and male-designated sports leagues. Despite bipartisan conversations and mounting public concern over fairness in competitive athletics, the majority party refused to act, leaving Oregon’s female athletes at a growing disadvantage.

“This is about biological reality and the dignity of both women and men,” continued Diehl. “Oregonians from across the political spectrum agree – males and females should compete separately in sports. Our public schools and the OSAA are currently in violation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, and they are now under federal investigation. By refusing to address this issue, the Democrat majority is not only undermining the rights and dignity of women, but also putting Oregon’s federal education funding at risk — all in service to a harmful and unscientific ideology.”

Representative Diehl remains committed to protecting fairness in sports and defending the rights of Oregon’s female athletes.

The post Rep Diehl: Dems reject bill protecting fairness in school sports first appeared on Oregon Catalyst.