Rep.-elect Jayme Lien, a Republican from Casper, is poised to reintroduce one of the most discussed bills from Wyoming’s 2024 legislative session: the “What Is a Woman Act.”
This bill, which seeks to define gender in state law based on biological sex at birth, was originally sponsored by outgoing Rep. Jeanette Ward. The bill aims to establish a legal definition of “man” and “woman” and would restrict access to public facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms according to an individual’s biological sex.
Lien, who won her seat in the November election, has committed to bringing the bill back in 2025, following its narrow failure to advance during the 2024 budget session. The proposed law defines a female as someone with a biological reproductive system designed to produce ova, and a male as someone with a reproductive system developed to fertilize ova. The bill also seeks to ensure that facilities like restrooms and domestic violence shelters are segregated by biological sex to protect the privacy and safety of all individuals.
“The objective is to protect the health, safety, and privacy of all Wyomingites,” Lien said in a statement. “I am honored to carry Representative Ward’s bill to codify into law what it means to be a woman and a man in the state of Wyoming.”
One of the key issues that Lien has cited as motivating her to reintroduce the bill is the need for safe, private spaces in public facilities, a concern that was frequently raised by her constituents during her campaign. She emphasized that many residents have expressed a desire for separate bathroom and locker room facilities based on biological sex.
Despite its controversial nature, the bill’s prospects have improved for the 2025 session. With the Wyoming Freedom Caucus securing a majority in the state House of Representatives, the bill now faces a more favorable political environment. Additionally, because the 2025 session is not a budget session, the bill only requires a simple majority to be introduced.
This bill aligns with broader national debates surrounding the rights of transgender individuals. In 2023, controversies related to transgender participation in public life, such as a lawsuit over the inclusion of a transgender member in a University of Wyoming sorority and disputes over transgender athletes in sports, have fueled ongoing discussions in Wyoming and beyond.
Critics of the bill, including civil rights advocates and some legislators, argue that such legislation is unnecessary and harmful to transgender individuals. They suggest it could limit personal freedoms and unfairly exclude transgender people from public spaces. Wyoming Equality, for example, has labeled the bill a “waste of taxpayer time and money,” arguing that the legislature should focus on more pressing issues like healthcare and the state’s growing OB-GYN deserts.
Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, expressed a similar sentiment, criticizing the bill as a distraction from more urgent concerns facing the state, such as healthcare shortages. Advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming have also voiced their opposition, arguing that the bill undermines the rights of transgender individuals and would be harmful to their ability to live authentically.
In contrast, supporters of the bill argue that it is a necessary step in preserving privacy and safety in public facilities. Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, has also announced her intention to introduce legislation addressing similar concerns, including a bill that would protect women-only spaces in restrooms and locker rooms, and another to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
As Wyoming’s 2025 legislative session approaches, the “What Is a Woman Act” and similar proposals are likely to be a focal point of debate. The session will begin on January 14.
Cowboy State Daily, KGAB AM 650, and the Sheridan Media contributed to this report.
