Connecticut parents upset about their daughters competing in high school sports against biological males shouldn’t expect any sympathy from Sen. Chris Murphy.

The Connecticut Democrat dismissed the issue of female-identifying males on girls’ sports teams, insisting in a speech on the Senate floor that there aren’t that many of them — or at least there weren’t a few years ago in Florida.

Mr. Murphy said there were 13 known transgender athletes in high school sports in the eight years before Florida approved a ban on male-born athletes in female scholastic sports in 2021.

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“Those 13 girls were apparently waging a war against girls’ sports,” Mr. Murphy said. “That’s a pretty small army to be waging a war. You’re more likely to be killed by a falling object in this country than to have your daughter compete against a transgender girl in high school sports.”

In Connecticut, however, the odds are probably a little higher.

One of Connecticut’s biggest track stars is Conard High School senior Lizzy Bidwell, a male-to-female athlete who holds the state’s top 2023-24 rankings in the girls’ outdoor high jump, long jump, and triple jump, according to Athletic.net.

Bidwell competed in at least 20 meets last year as a junior during the indoor and outdoor track seasons, facing off in the three events against dozens if not hundreds of girls.

The state is also home to Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, the lawsuit brought by four female athletes against state rules that allowed two male-born transgender runners — Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller — to compete in girls’ high school track, breaking 17 girls’ state records and taking 15 state titles in three years.

The case filed in 2020 is now before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

There’s a place for everyone to play sports in this country. But, @ChrisMurphyCT, you cannot change the biological advantage that males have over females. And using selective data from one state does not erase that reality.

But here are some numbers from your state: https://t.co/x4HZhWVs2T pic.twitter.com/uTNnLa7WF7

— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) September 19, 2024

Mr. Murphy’s speech came during a debate Tuesday on a resolution sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, that would mark Oct. 10 as American Girls in Sports Day.

She picked Oct. 10 because the month and day are represented in Roman numerals by “XX,” which also refers to female chromosomes.

Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the bill.

Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics and an advocate for single-sex female sports, responded to Mr. Murphy’s speech by posting a list of the numbers of girls who competed against Miller and Yearwood. The total was 235.

“There’s a place for everyone to play sports in this country. But, @ChrisMurphyCT, you cannot change the biological advantage that males have over females,” she said on X. “And using selective data from one state does not erase that reality. But here are some numbers from your state.”

Conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly responded to Mr. Murphy’s speech by saying on X: “You make me want to run for office in my new home state of CT and take your job.”

Advocates for female sports have raised issues with both fairness and safety, citing instances where girls have been injured by male-born competitors, but Mr. Murphy said he didn’t think transgender athletes represent a threat to female students.

“As a parent personally, I celebrate those few transgender kids who often spend their entire adolescence being shamed or marginalized by the kind of small people who push resolutions like this,” he said.

“I celebrate the fact that they get the experience of the camaraderie and the happiness that comes with being part of a sports team. I think that’s great. I don’t think that’s a threat to my kids,” he added.