U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, representing Mississippi, has joined forces with Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas to introduce new legislation aimed at defining legal terms related to gender. The proposed Defining Male and Female Act of 2024 (S.5356) seeks to establish biologically-based definitions for male, female, and sex.
Hyde-Smith emphasized the importance of basing these definitions on biological reality as a means to protect women and girls. She stated, “Ensuring that the legal definitions of male and female are based on biological reality is essential to protecting women and girls.”
Marshall, who has a medical background with experience in delivering babies, expressed concern over what he describes as the politicization of children’s gender by current policies under the Biden-Harris administration. He said, “I didn’t think we would need legislation to tell us that there are only two sexes: male and female.”
The bill aims to counteract policies that promote “gender-affirming care,” which includes medical interventions that some argue can have irreversible effects on children. According to the senators supporting this bill, such policies have resulted in negative outcomes for children.
Additional support for this legislative effort comes from Senators James Risch and Mike Crapo of Idaho. Congressman Michael Guest from Mississippi is backing a similar measure in the House of Representatives.
Senator Hyde-Smith has previously opposed changes made by the Biden administration concerning Title IX protections for women and girls. Her efforts include challenging Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s rule changes and co-sponsoring related legislation focused on women’s sports.
