Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard has introduced a “blatantly transphobic” bill to deny trans-inclusive schools funding, despite claiming to support the LGBT+ community.

On Thursday (10 December), representative Gabbard introduced a bill to the house, co-sponsored by Republican representative Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, called the “Protect Women’s Sport Act”.

The bill aims to clarify Title IX rights (outlawing sex-based discrimination in federally-funded education) as “based on biological sex”, and prevent schools from receiving federal funding if they allow trans girls and women, as well as non-binary people, to compete on women’s sports teams.

In a statement, Gabbard said: “Title IX… led to a generational shift that impacted countless women, creating life-changing opportunities for girls and women that never existed before.

“However, Title IX is being weakened by some states who are misinterpreting Title IX, creating uncertainty, undue hardship and lost opportunities for female athletes.

“Our legislation protects Title IX’s original intent which was based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex.”

Gabbard is the US representative for Hawaii’s second congressional district, who also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination last year.

During her campaign she came under fire for her history of opposed marriage equality and having called LGBT+ activists “homosexual extremists”.

However in a grovelling apology she insisted that her views had changed and that she was now an LGBT+ ally.

She was swiftly criticised for the new legislation, especially as just last year she insisted that would “work toward passing legislation that ensures equal rights and protections on LGBT+ issues”.

Activist Charlotte Clymer wrote on Twitter: “Tulsi Gabbard is now introducing a blatantly transphobic piece of legislation aimed at trans and non-binary young people.”