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Last year, State Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, introduced the “What is a Woman Act” in the state legislature with the express purpose of defining gender as an individual’s biological sex. Although the bill passed through the Alabama House of Representatives, it failed to make it through the State Senate before the end of session. Now, DuBose has reintroduced the bill with the hopes of passing it into law during the 2025 legislative session which begins this week.
The bill’s reintroduction coincides with the GOP’s renewed focus on sex and gender-related issues like removing preferred pronouns from official government email signatures, banning transgender individuals from participating in sports, and restricting access to gender-affirming care for young Americans.
“Alabamians clearly delivered an election mandate to preserve women’s rights. My colleagues and I have a responsibility to define sex-based terms and protect women’s private spaces. This is not controversial, it is common sense, and momentum is on the side. I am excited to re-introduce my ‘What is a Woman Act’ and ensure that when Alabama statute says ‘woman’ or ‘man,’ there is no confusion over what those words mean. This bill is sound policy, rooted in objective truth, and it has tremendous public support,” DuBose said of the legislation.
On Monday, Independent Women’s Voice, a nominally “nonpartisan” nonprofit organization which advocates for conservative policy and has strong ties to right-wing financiers like the Koch brothers, celebrated the reintroduction of the What is a Woman Act in an official press release.
“Today, Independent Women is thrilled to celebrate Alabama State Representative Susan DuBose’s introduction of the ‘What is a Woman Act’ in Alabama on the heels of Independent Women’s ‘Stand With Women’ initiative driving sweeping pro-woman election victories across the country. The legislation, inspired by Independent Women’s Stand with Women Act, would fortify the definitions of male and female terms in law and protect the existence of single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centers and dormitories,” reads the press release.
The organization claims that there is overwhelming popular support for bills like DuBose’s, stating that polling they conducted in Alabama reveals that “85 percent of respondents think it is important that Alabama pass a law to define sex-based terms like ‘man,’ ‘woman,’ ‘female,’ and ‘male.'”
“Independent Women looks forward to safeguarding the rights of Alabamian women under both state and federal law,” the release continues.
The organization also said that the bill represents “a wave of pro-woman policies set to take place across the country” — pointing to President Donald Trump’s day-one executive order declaring it the official policy of the United States that there are only two sexes, male and female, and that those sexes are unchangeable. Independent Women’s Voice also celebrated the recent decision of a Federal District Court in Kentucky which struck down the Biden administration’s attempt to add “gender identity” to the anti-discrimination provisions of Title IX.
Paula Scanlan, an ambassador for Independent Women who rose to public prominence after decrying the participation of Lia Thomas, a transgender women, in women’s collegiate swimming, praised DuBose and the What is a Woman Act.
“It’s not anti-anyone to be pro-woman. Rep. DuBose has been a tireless champion for women’s rights and good governing. Her ‘What is a Woman Act’ is a necessary bill to ensure judicial activists can’t twist the meaning of common-sense words. It was a pleasure to join her in Alabama last year to advocate for her bill, and I look forward to championing it over the finish line this year,” Scanlan said.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has also voiced his approval for DuBose’s legislation.
“I applaud Rep. DuBose for her courage and leadership to protect Alabama’s women and girls. The American people spoke clearly on these issues in November, President Trump has taken action, and it’s time for Alabama to follow suit. I look forward to working with Susan and other members of the Legislature to ensure that Alabamians can put this issue to rest once and for all,” Marshall said.
