MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill that would ban abortions based on the fetus' sex.

Rep. Steve Kestell, an Elkhart Lake Republican, wrote the bill. It prohibits anyone from knowingly performing a sex-selective abortion.

The measure also would enable the fetus' mother, father or grandparent to sue the abortion provider for emotional and psychological harm and seek an injunction prohibiting the provider from performing another sex-selective abortion. The court proceedings would be secret unless the plaintiffs specify they could be held in open court.

The Assembly passed the measure 58-39 on Thursday despite minority Democrats' contention that sex-selective abortions aren't a problem in Wisconsin. The bill goes to the state Senate.